The effect of group clinics in the control of diabetes

Abstract Objectives Novel interventions are needed for long-term maintenance of diabetes control. We studied the effects of a group diabetes clinic (GDC) on diabetes control when compared to usual care with primary care providers (PCP). Research design/methods Data from the electronic medical records of 56 patients were collected. Twenty-nine patients were in the group diabetes clinic (GDC) while 27 patients followed with their PCP. Outcome variables, A1c, LDL, and blood pressure (BP) were measured at baseline and every 6 months for a 2 year period. Results A1c, LDL and BP were no different at the end of 2 years in the GDC cohort and the PCP cohort. Slight upward trend in time was detected for A1c in both groups, but more so in the PCP group. Conclusion GDC can lead to maintenance of diabetes control in a population with difficult to manage diabetes as effectively as and more efficiently than usual care.