People with diabetes can improve their health if they regularly monitor their blood sugar, lower fat in their daily diet and stop smoking, according to a recent study of 400 diabetes patients in Hawaii. Lifestyle change
improves diabetesStar-Bulletin staff
The Healthy Changes study was developed at the University of Rhode Island and conducted here from January 1999 through September 2000.
Hawaii Medical Service Association members with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes participated voluntarily in the random clinical trial.
The program was entitled "Pathways to Change: Diabetes, a behavioral intervention for people with diabetes." It was designed to help people with diabetes achieve positive lifestyle changes through regular blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating and giving up smoking, if they smoke.
Those who did not monitor their blood sugar as recommended, consumed too much fat and/or smoked at the start of the study showed significant health improvements after changing their behaviors, HMSA reported.
Patients who doubled the frequency of blood sugar monitoring significantly improved diabetes control. Patients targeted for "healthy eating" improved their eating habits by 74 percent, compared with 36 percent for "treatment as usual."
"The magnitude of these findings is exciting," said Dr. Joseph Rossi of the University of Rhode Island's Cancer Prevention Research Center. "We now have strong evidence that a directed behavioral intervention results in changes in patient behaviors that generate positive biological changes for people with diabetes."
An estimated 80,000 Hawaii residents have diabetes. About 40,000 HMSA members receive services through the health carrier's Diabetes Care Connection program.
The behavioral intervention program in the Healthy Changes study used individualized behavioral programs for patients developed by computer from patient information.
LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company that makes blood sugar monitoring products, is looking into the possibility of marketing the program.