Fewer subjects receiving the group intervention than those receiving the individual intervention completed the program, probably because of scheduling difficulties, the authors wrote. Nevertheless, in an analysis restricted to subjects who completed their programs, the results were still better with the individual than with the group intervention.
"We believe that these short-term results support the use of individual diabetes education for this patient population," the investigators said.
Dr. Weinger’s study was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institutes of Health, and the Joslin Diabetes Center Clinical Research Center. Abbott Laboratories, LifeScan, and Roche Diagnostics contributed glucose meters and test strips. Dr. Weinger’s associate reported ties to Eli Lilly, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, Sanofi-Aventis, and Daiichi-Sankyo. Dr. Sperl-Hillen’s study was funded by Merck. Dr. Sperl-Hillen reported ties to Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, and Schering-Plough.