Benefits of intensive treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes patients: the importance of patient education.

In a study among 34 insulin-dependent diabetes patients the effects of a more intensive treatment by three regular specialists were examined. Compared with a matched control group (n = 34), the results showed that the intensively treated group had a better metabolic control and that they judged the relationship with their specialist more favourably. No differences were found regarding the satisfaction about the patient education, the knowledge about diabetes, the state anxiety, the general and health locus of control orientation nor the attitude towards diabetes. Also the correlations between these patient education variables and the regulation and the evaluation of the relationship with the doctor did not differ for both groups. The conclusion is stressed that patient education needs to be a part of the development of a more intensive treatment of diabetes patients.