Long-term interactive group education for type 1 diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an Interactive Educational and Support Group programme (IESG) for patients with type 1 diabetes. A sample of 96 type 1 diabetic outpatients was studied measuring the effects of participation in IEGS on metabolic control and diabetes-related quality of life (QoL). Those refusing to participate (n = 48) and a sample of 37 patients who were not invited to IESG (control) where studied for comparison. After one year, participants showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement of HbA(1c) from 7.7+/-1.6 to 7.2+/-1.5%, whereas no variation of HbA(1c) was observed in non-participants and controls. No significant variation of QoL was observed in any of the three groups. At two-years follow-up, HbA(1c) of the patients attending IESG was not significantly different from that at one-year follow-up, and it was significantly lower than that observed at enrolment. QoL showed a significant improvement at 2 years with respect to baseline and one-year follow-up. In conclusion, this programme appears to be effective in the improvement of medium term metabolic control and QoL.