International Journal of Diabetes Mellitus
Volume 2, Issue 2 , Pages 95-100, August 2010

Sustained gains from a diabetes prevention program and the role of telephone support

  • James A. Dunbar

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders and Deakin Universities, P.O. Box 423, Warrnambool, VIC 3280, Australia. Tel.: +61 (0) 3 5563 3315; fax: +61 (0) 3 5563 3144.
    • ,
  • Nathalie Davis-Lameloise

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • ,
  • Benjamin Philpot

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • ,
  • Prasuna Reddy

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • ,
  • Stephen Bunker

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • ,
  • Sami Heistaro

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
    • ,
  • Tiina Laatikainen

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
    • ,
  • Edward D. Janus

      Affiliations

    • Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders University, and Deakin University, Warrnambool, Australia
    • The Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Western Hospital, Footscray, Australia

Received 5 February 2010; received in revised form 29 March 2010; accepted 3 May 2010. published online 01 June 2010.

Abstract 

Background

An evaluation of the sustainability of lifestyle changes was undertaken for participants completing a 12month diabetes prevention program. This second part of the study also tested whether regular structured telephone calls could be effective in maintaining lifestyle changes.

Methods

Originally, 237 participants completed a 12month group-based lifestyle intervention study. They were aged 40–75years, with a moderate to high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Participants were then randomised to telephone support (n=107) or self-care only (n=98) for 18months, and re-assessed using anthropometric, clinical, psychological and general health measures.

Results

A total of 164 participants (85 telephone support and 79 self-care only) completed the follow-up. Changes between 12 and 30months for the telephone support group were not significantly different from those found in the self-care only group. Beneficial lifestyle changes achieved by participants were generally sustained after the diabetes prevention program, with the exception of fasting plasma glucose and some psychological measures.

Conclusions

Positive outcomes achieved at 12months were generally maintained after a further 18months. Telephone support did not appear to produce additional benefits.

Keywords: Diabetes prevention, Telephone support, Lifestyle modification, Follow-up

 

PII: S1877-5934(10)00024-X

doi:10.1016/j.ijdm.2010.05.002

International Journal of Diabetes Mellitus
Volume 2, Issue 2 , Pages 95-100, August 2010

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