Blood glucose awareness training (BGAT-2) - Long-term benefits

OBJECTIVE - Blued glucose awareness training (BGAT) has been shown to improve awareness of blood glucose (BG! fluctuations among adults with type 1 diabetes. This study investigates the long-term (12-month) benefits of BGAT-2. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 73 adults with type diabetes participated in a 6-month repeated baseline design with a 12-month follow up. At 6 months and 1 month before BGAT-2 and at 1, 6, and 12 months after BGAT-2, subjects used a handheld computer for 50 trials and completed psychological tests. Throughout assessment, subjects completed diaries, recording occurrences of diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, and motor vehicle violations. During follow-up, 50% of the subjects received booster training. RESULTS - During the first and last halves of both the baseline period and the follow-up period, dependent variables were generally stable. However, from baseline to follow-up. BGAT-2 led to I) improved detection of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia; 2) improved judgment regarding when to lower high DG, raise low BG. and not drive while hypoglycemic; 3) reduction in occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia. and motor vehicle violations; and 4) improvement in terms of worry about hypoglycemia, quality of life. and diabetes knowledge. Reduction in severe hypoglycemia was not associated with a worsening of metabolic control (HbA(t)). The presence or absence of booster training did not differentially affect these benefits. CONCLUSION - BGAT has sustained broad-ranging benefits, independent of booster Intervention.