Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes Patients: Results of a Pilot Study with the Structured Program DaVinci Diabetes®

Information about lifestyle changes with healthy diet and physical activity are included in diabetes education programs although implication into daily routine is rarely successful. Therefore, a structured program for cognitive behaviour therapy (DaVinci Diabetes (R)) without diabetes specific topics was developed and evaluated in a pilot study. Using an interactive computer program, patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) performed guided cognitive behaviour therapy for 3 months. Glucometabolic control was analyzed before and after the program as well as after 12 months. Via the program all participants (n=19) identified grievances in their lifestyle and attitude and appropriately implemented lifestyle changes autonomously. This resulted in significant reductions of weight, BMI, waist circumference and triglyceride levels after 3 months, which further improved during the 12 months of follow-up. Mean HbA1c, which already was <7.0% at baseline, became reduced by 0.48% during the program and still remained below base level after 12 months. Percentage of participants with an HbA1c <6.5% increased from 21% at baseline to 37% after 12 months. Cognitive behaviour therapy is a new approach to achieve sustained improvements of risk factors for diabetic complications in persons with type 2 diabetes.