Preliminary report of the Southeastern Anatolia Diabetes Project: activities of the Diabetes Nursing Association

Reducing the modifiable risks of cardiovascular disease in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes: the effectiveness of training

Our goal was to reduce the number of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) through providing lifestyle adjustment training and counseling to patients with type 2 diabetes. In this pre-post intervention study, 139 patients with diabetes were provided with training to reduce the modifiable risks of CVD. One hundred three patients attended the post-training evaluation. Two phone counseling sessions were provided with 1-month intervals. Consumption of red meat and processed food decreased and water consumption, carrying on the recommended diet, and the frequency of exercise increased (p = .000), A1C decreased (p = .05), and the use of aspirin increased (p = .03). Thus, a contribution to the reduction of CVD risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes was achieved. The training program for reducing CVD risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes was effective in improving nutrition and lifestyle behaviors and decreasing glycemic control.

Influence of diabetic education on patient metabolic control

This study was conducted for the purpose of examining the effect of planned education given to persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on their metabolic control. The method of the study was a randomly controlled clinical trial. A sample of 50 individuals participated, of which 25 were in the Experimental group (E), and 25 were in the Control group (C). The educational program consisted of three sessions between the educator and persons with diabetes. Before the education program, there was no statistically important significance between the metabolic control parameters of the E group and the C group. In the analysis of the difference between means of the E and C groups, after the third education program, statistically significant differences were found between fasting blood sugar, postparandial blood sugar, urine glucose, hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In the study, regular and repetitive education provided by the nurses had a positive effect on the metabolic values of persons with DM.