However , overall there did not appear to be a significant difference between individual education and usual care .
In the small number of studies comparing group and individual education , there was an equal impact on HbA1c at 12 to 18 months .
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is a common and costly chronic disease which is associated with significant premature mortality and morbidity .
Although patient education is an integral component of diabetes care , there remain uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of different methods and modes of education .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of individual patient education  on metabolic control , diabetes knowledge and psychosocial outcomes .
Multidisciplinary approach to patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective, randomized study
Abstract .Practicing physicians as well as diabetes specialists are confronted with the often-frustrating experience of dealing with patients with poorly controlled diabetes . It is not always obvious why these patients fail to improve . The aims of this study were two-fold : ( a ) to determine if the interdisciplinary approach offered by the Western Negev  Mobile Clinic Diabetes Program ( WNMDCP ) is of benefit in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and ( b ) to more fully characterize patients refractory to treatment . Two primary -care clinics of the Western Negev were r and omly selected as control and intervention . All patients from both clinics with hemoglobin ( HbA1C ) ≥10 % ( tested during June-July 2000 ) were studied for 6 months . Patients from the control clinic continued the usual treatment . Patients from the intervention clinic received the interdisciplinary approach offered by WNMCDP . The rate of improvement of diabetes control , measured as a decrease in HbA1C values of at least 0.5 % , and compliance to treatment were determined . Overall , 48 of 258 patients in the intervention clinic and 34 of 179 patients in the control clinic met the inclusion criteria . At the 6-month follow-up , we observed significant improvements in plasma glucose ( -1.5 mmol/l ; p=0.003 ) and HbA1C ( -1.8 % ; p=0.00001 ) in the intervention group but not in the control group . The compliance and response rates were 85 % and 71 % for the intervention group and 32 % and 35 % for the control group , respectively . Patients from the intervention clinic showed significant improvement in the endpoints compared to patients from the control clinic . More than 70 % of patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus responded to the interdisciplinary treatment approach offered by WNMDCP . The group of non-responders comprised patients with poor compliance ( 15 % ) and those with serious concomitant diseases or limitations of mobility
However , overall there did not appear to be a significant difference between individual education and usual care .
In the small number of studies comparing group and individual education , there was an equal impact on HbA1c at 12 to 18 months .
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is a common and costly chronic disease which is associated with significant premature mortality and morbidity .
Although patient education is an integral component of diabetes care , there remain uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of different methods and modes of education .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of individual patient education  on metabolic control , diabetes knowledge and psychosocial outcomes .