Impact of self management on metabolic control indicators of diabetes patients

INTRODUCTION: Patients with diabetes play an important role in management of their illness. They should be involved in the intervention program to be able to improve their quality of life. This study investigated the effect of a self-management program based on 5A (assess, advise, agree, assist, arrange) model on metabolic control indicators of diabetic patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this randomized, controlled trial, 70 diabetic insulin dependent patients who referred to Nader Kazemi clinic in Shiraz participated. They were randomly assigned to two groups of experiment and control. Then a self-management program based on 5A model was performed for the experiment group during 3-mounths and the indicators of metabolic control including hemoglobin A(1)c, cholesterol, triglyceride and also body mass index were measured pre- and post- intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver 11.5. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed a significant reduction in mean fasting blood sugar (69 units) and HbA(1)c (1.16 units) in the experimental group . Pre- to post-changes in hemoglobin A(1)c, fasting blood sugar, and high density lipoprotein were significant between the two groups of study. However, there was no significant difference in cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and body mass index between the two groups. DISCUSSION: Regarding the results, it can be concluded that a 3-month self-management program based on 5A model is effective in reducing the fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A(1)c. Application of self management program based on 5A model in diabetic clinics is recommended.