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 .
An intensified lifestyle intervention programme may be superior to insulin treatment in poorly controlled Type 2 diabetic patients on oral hypoglycaemic agents: results of a feasibility study.
AIMS The aims of this study were to assess whether , in Type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycaemic control on oral hypoglycaemic agents ( OHA ) , a lifestyle intervention programme based on exercise and diet counselling ( i ) was as effective as insulin treatment in controlling blood glucose , and ( ii ) could prevent the weight gain usually accompanying the introduction of insulin treatment . METHODS Thirty-eight Type 2 diabetic subjects treated with OHA , HbA(1c ) 8 - 10.5 % and body mass index ( BMI ) 26 - 40 kg/m2 , were r and omized to the following treatments : ( i ) lifestyle intervention ( L ) , ( ii ) lifestyle intervention + insulin treatment ( L+I ) and ( iii ) insulin treatment alone ( I ) . RESULTS There was a reduction in HbA(1c ) of -1.2 ( interquartile range 1.0 ) , -1.0 ( 1.7 ) and -1.5 (2.5)% in group L , L+I and I , respectively , and all treatment groups achieved beneficial changes in blood lipid variables . There was no significant difference between the groups in the change observed in levels of HbA(1c ) between start and 12 months of treatment ( P = 0.74 ) . There was a significant difference in weight changes between groups ( P < 0.01 ) : group L reduced weight by median -3.0 ( 4.0 ) kg , groups L+I and I increased weight by 3.5 ( 3.4 ) and 4.9 ( 6.9 ) kg , respectively . CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle intervention was as effective as insulin treatment in improving glycaemic control in poorly controlled subjects with Type 2 diabetes , and result ed in weight loss during the intervention year . However , glycaemic control deteriorated and body weight increased in the lifestyle intervention group 1 year after the intervention stopped
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 .