2023 Volume 72 Issue 3 Pages 325-330
The “Diabetes Class” provides lifestyle guidance as part of patient treatment. However, outpatient visits are time-consuming and physically demanding, and may not last. We retrospectively analyzed the relationship between attendance at diabetes classes and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level to verify if the guidance for diabetes treatment is effective and practical. Between 2013 and 2021, 339 people attended diabetes classes sponsored by the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, and their HbA1c levels were measured. Patients were 66 years old (median), and 57.2% were male. In the diabetes class, (1) doctors, (2) physical therapists, (3) nutritionists/pharmacists, and (4) nurses/medical technologists give lectures. HbA1c (NGSP) was measured using HLC-723G11 (Tosoh) within one month before and after the first and final classes. After the course, HbA1c levels worsened in 28 (8.2%), remained unchanged in 120 (35.4%), improved in 104 (30.7%), and significantly improved in 87 (25.7%). The significantly improved group was predominantly composed of males and those undergoing physical therapy. In the group with HbA1c levels above 8.0%, males who attended more than three classes and physiotherapy showed a significant improvement. The marked rate of nursing/medical technology students was also high. For diabetes, multidisciplinary teams should work together and support patients. It was shown that the number of lectures was high and that lectures on physiotherapy led to improvements in HbA1c level and were effective as educational opportunities for diabetic patients.
