Good self-management among diabetics helps cut risk of mortality

Researchers have showed that patients with good diabetes self-management that is patients with a high self-management index, had a significantly lower mortality risk than patients with a low self-management index.

Scientists of the Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management (IGM) and of the Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI II) at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (HMGU), together with colleagues of the German Diabetes Center (DDZ) in Dusseldorf, investigated the association between self-management behavior and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.

340 study participants with type 2 diabetes were interviewed with regard to their patient behavior - e.g. regular monitoring of blood glucose levels, having a diet plan or performing physical exercise. Based on this data a self-management index was defined. The team led by Professor Rolf Holle and Michael Laxy correlated the index with the mortality of the participants, who were monitored over a period of 12 years.

Holle, group leader of the research group Economic Evaluation at the IGM, said that the results show that in addition to physician delivered treatment according to medical guidelines, the patient's behavior is also of great significance for the course of the disease and for the success of the treatment process.

He said that patient-centered services, such as diabetes education, self-management training and information services therefore make a valuable contribution to good patient care and should continue to be expanded.