Structured treatment and teaching of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired cognitive function - the DICOF trial

Background Patient education is integral part of any diabetes therapy in Germany, but elderly patients are not able to follow the variety of topics comprising standard treatment and teaching programmes (TTP), primarily due to impaired neuropsychological function. This leads to deficits in diabetes knowledge and hindered ability for diabetes self-management. Aim To evaluate structured TTP for geriatric patients with impaired cognitive function. Patients and methods A neuropsychological examination was performed on all patients over 54 years [n = 102, age 68.6 +/- 8.7 years, diabetes duration 10.3 (0.03-35.4) years, HbA(1c) 10.3 +/- 1.7% (HPLC, Diamat(R), NR 4.5-6.3%), cognitive function 87.7 +/- 12.3 IQ points] who took part in TTP for insulin therapy. Patients with impaired cognitive function participated either in the standard TTP of Berger [n = 35, age 67.6 +/- 8.9 years, diabetes duration 9.9 (0.04-35.4) years, HbA(1c) 10.3 +/- 2.0%] or in the specialized structured geriatric DICOF-TTP [n = 33, age 70.4 +/- 8.2 years, diabetes duration 10.4 (0.03-24.9) years, HbA(1c) 10.7 +/- 1.8%]. Results After TTP there were no differences in knowledge and ability for diabetes self-management (standard/DICOF: knowledge 11.0 +/- 2.6 vs. 12.2 +/- 2.7 points, P = 0.11; handling 14.9 +/- 3.3 vs. 15.9 +/- 2.5 points, P = 0.18). However, patients who took part in the DICOF programme showed better scores in satisfaction with the education programme [standard/DICOF 44.7 (31-57) vs. 52.5 (45-59) points, P < 0.001]. Six months later the DICOF participants showed better results regarding diabetes self-management (standard/DICOF: handling 12.5 +/- 4.1 vs. 15.9 +/- 3.1 points, P = 0.001). Both groups showed HbA(1c) decrease (8.3 +/- 1.4 vs. 8.5 +/- 1.3%, P = 0.62) and similar incidence of acute complications. Conclusions Elderly patients with impaired cognitive function should take part in specialized structured TTP. This leads to both better satisfaction with the education programme and an improved ability for diabetes self-management.