OBJECTIVES: Novel interventions are needed for long-term maintenance of diabetes control. We studied the effects of a group diabetes clinic (GDC) on diabetes control when compared to usual care with primary care providers (PCP). RESEARCH DESIGN/ METHODS: Data from the electronic medical records of 56 patients were collected. Twenty-nine patients were in the group diabetes clinic (GDC) while 27 patients followed with their PCP. Outcome variables, A1c, LDL, and blood pressure (BP) were measured at baseline and every 6 months for a 2 year period. RESULTS: A1c, LDL and BP were no different at the end of 2 years in the GDC cohort and the PCP cohort. Slight upward trend in time was detected for A1c in both groups, but more so in the PCP group. CONCLUSION: GDC can lead to maintenance of diabetes control in a population with difficult to manage diabetes as effectively as and more efficiently than usual care. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
OBJECTIVES: Novel interventions are needed for long-term maintenance of diabetes control. We studied the effects of a group diabetes clinic (GDC) on diabetes control when compared to usual care with primary care providers (PCP). RESEARCH DESIGN/ METHODS: Data from the electronic medical records of 56 patients were collected. Twenty-nine patients were in the group diabetes clinic (GDC) while 27 patients followed with their PCP. Outcome variables, A1c, LDL, and blood pressure (BP) were measured at baseline and every 6 months for a 2 year period. RESULTS: A1c, LDL and BP were no different at the end of 2 years in the GDC cohort and the PCP cohort. Slight upward trend in time was detected for A1c in both groups, but more so in the PCP group. CONCLUSION:GDC can lead to maintenance of diabetes control in a population with difficult to manage diabetes as effectively as and more efficiently than usual care. Published by Elsevier Ltd.