RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a patient education program on diabetes control. METHODS: A pre-test post-test pre experimental study was performed with 87 insulin treated diabetic patients followed in the chronic disease unit of Kelibia district (Nabeul, Tunisia). Subjects received education in 6 monthly sessions. Outcome measures included glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), anxiety level according to the Hamilton scale and Body Mass Index. Changes were assessed after the 6 month program. RESULTS: HbA1c decreased from 8.8% +/- 1.23 to 7,6 +/- 1.43 (P<10-6) with an increase in the prevalence of satisfactory HbA1c (< or = 8%) from 33% to 61.2% (P<0,001). The prevalence of severe anxiety decreased by about a third (P < 0,001). CONCLUSION: Education led to an improvement in diabetes control in insulin treated diabetic patients. More attention should be paid to such strategies in general practice.