Getting It Together

Written by Dietitians at Diabetes Control for Life

You’ve tried all kinds of ways to manage your diabetes, but no single strategy seems to be effective, at least not for a long time. But now you have a program that can help you control your diabetes.

You may wonder, though, “How do I know Diabetes Control for Life will work?”

This is the first of your Diabetes Control for Life Program Well-being articles. These articles will help you get on the right track and stay there. You will find information about your nutrition, tips on exercise, and strategies to avoid situations that can cause problems.

Importance of Intervention: The Well-Tech Study

This article tells you about a study conducted by doctors that used similar approaches to the ones you’ll find in Diabetes Control for Life. Participants were people just like you. They had diabetes.

“Structured Intervention”

What does that mean exactly — “structured intervention”?

It means that you approach your diabetes from every angle. It’s not just a matter of paying attention to your diet, or your exercise, or checking your glucose levels. It means putting it all together in a program that works for you. It means living with your diabetes in a way that you can control. So it does not control you.

How Was the Study Done?

The study lasted for six months. Participants were between 18 and 70 years old with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 23 kg/m². One hundred participants:

• Checked their blood glucose levels four to six times a week
• Received diabetes education
• Received consulting about their nutrition
• Were given Glucerna as part of a calorie-controlled diet
• Maintained their usual level of physical activity

Fifty participants in another group were given usual diabetes care.

What Information Was Collected?

Medical exams were given at the beginning of the study, and again after three months and six months. These data were collected:

• Blood glucose
• Blood pressure
• Weight
• Waist circumference

Participants recorded their own impressions of their health and their productivity in a survey at the beginning of the study and when it was completed. They also recorded improvements in risk factors for obesity, and in the severity of their diabetes symptoms.

Did the Program Work?

Yes! Just look at this! All of these improvements were scientifically significant.

• Fasting blood glucose decreased from 8.62 mmol/L to 7.39 mmol/L.
• HbA1c decreased from 7.1 to 6.3.
• Systolic blood pressure decreased from 131.2 to 123.7.
• Diastolic blood pressure decreased from 87.0 to 83.8.
• Weight decreased from 75.7 kg to 72.8 kg.
• The percentage of people who were obese, as defined by waist circumference, decreased from 22.7 percent at the beginning of the study to 13.4 percent at the study’s end.

Participants also reported improvement in the severity of their diabetes symptoms and in their ability to meet work demands.

Take Control of Your Diabetes With Diabetes Control for Life

Now you know. Diabetes Control for Life helps you approach your diabetes from every angle similar to the participants in the successful clinical study. And the study shows that structured intervention works. You can make the differences that will put you in the driver’s seat. It’s time to get started!