Education and quality of life in diabetic patients

The aim of the present randomized, controlled study was to evaluate the effect of a 5-day teaching program for diabetic patients on their quality of life 1 and 2 years afterwards. Three hundred and nineteen insulin-treated patients, of mean age 38.2 +/- 14.1 years and mean duration of the disease 9.0 +/- 6.9 years were followed up at reeducation sessions 1 and 2 years after the program. A group of 241 insulin-treated patients were also followed up and served as a control group. At baseline and 1 and 2 years later, we have assessed patients' well-being, using a standard 22-item questionnaire. There was a significant increase in overall well-being of patients one (P < 0.0001) and 2 years (P < 0.001) after the program, due to reduction in depression and anxiety and increase in positive well-being after I year and decrease in depression and increase in positive well-being after 2 years as compared to the control group. There was an improvement in glycaemic control of the educated patients as compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The results from the present study demonstrate that structured patient education improves patients' well-being 1 and 2 years after the teaching program. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.