CHANGES IN CONCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES DURING 5 YEARS OF INTENSIFIED CONVENTIONAL INSULIN-TREATMENT IN THE STOCKHOLM DIABETES INTERVENTION STUDY (SDIS)

Previous studies have demonstrated that intensified treatment can resu lt in Lower blood glucose concentrations and retard microvascular comp lications. In the Stockholm Diabetes Intervention Study, 96 patients w ere followed for 5 years; 44 patients received intensified conventiona l treatment and 52 patients received regular treatment Changes in conc eptions and attitudes that accompanied intensified treatment were eval uated with questionnaires and semistructured interviews. After educati on and personal tutoring, HbA(1c) was significantly lower in patients in the intensified treatment group compared with patients in the regul ar treatment group. Self-rated wall-being and perceived ability to con trol the diabetes increased more in the patients in the intensified tr eatment group. Blood glucose testing became more important to the pati ents in the intensified treatment group, who used the blood glucose te sts more frequently whenever necessary, and who acted on the test resu lts. Microvascular complications were retarded or halted.