Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of continued education and multiprofessional care for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients as a strategy for long-term glycemic control evaluated by glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) levels. This study is a retrospective, observational study of the Diabetes Objective Control and Education (DOCE) Project. A group of 74 patients accompanied by family member attended multiprofessional appointments and an epidemiologic profile of the group was created. The analyzed variables were age, body mass index (BMI), height, duration of disease, age at diagnosis, duration of follow-up, current and baseline A1C, and the relationship between the period of follow-up and the variation in A1C. Mean age at diagnosis was 10.4±7.3 years, and duration of disease was 5.6±6.3 years. Mean age was 16±9.3 years, while mean BMI was 20.3±5.3. Mean duration of follow-up was 27.5±15.6 months. Baseline and current A1C were 10.5±1.8 and 8.2±1.7, respectively. A significant reduction in A1C was observed with the follow-up by the DOCE Project (p=0.00436). Other significant correlations were found between duration of treatment and reduction of current A1C (p=0.00000001) and duration follow-up and A1C reduction (p=0.00000003). Continued education and multiprofessional care for type 1 diabetes mellitus patients is an effective method for long-term glycemic control.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), education, glycemic control.