[The effect of an education and rehabilitation program for blind diabetics on the level of metabolic equalization].

AIM: Evaluating efficiency of the education and rehabilitation programme for patients suffering from diabetes on the level of metabolic equalization. Two modules for patients have been introduced. The first is group education conducted in groups of 20 patients. This covers basic information concerning diabetes, self-monitoring interventional actions and using the insulin-injector. The second model is repeated every three months: one-day observation in a room for daily-basis patients, which is combined with an individual educational programme and evaluation of metabolic equalization. After 6 and 24 months the level of patients knowledge was checked with the test containing 12 questions and with application of 1-5 point scale. The state of metabolic equalization was also tested, by means of evaluating the average glycaemia, serum concentration of HbA1c and the dosage of insulin. The level of patients knowledge increased after 6 months from 39 +/- 18% to 44 +/- 19%, and after 24 months by 68 +/- 21. The average glycaemia was lowered from 14.04 +/- 9.32 to 8.10 +/- 5.05 mmol/l after 24 months. The average serum cholesterol level was lowered from 6.7 +/- 1.21 to 6.51 +/- 1.39 mmol/l. At the same time there was an increase in the fractions HDL from 1.26 +/- 0.32 to 1.34 +/- 0.46 mmol/l HbA1c from 10.1 +/- 1.4% to 8.5 +/- 1.2%. The daily dose of insulin was reduced from 58.6 +/- 29.3 units a day 44.2 +/- 22.1 +/- units a day. A positive body weight reduction was observed. BMI was lowered from 30.1 +/- 3.96 to 28 +/- 5 kg/m2.