Clinical Characteristics of Diabetic Patients Controlled by Diet and Exercise

Wang, Kil Sang; Lee, Sung Bae; Lee, Hyun Suk; Jeon, Jae Suk; Min, Kyung Wan; Han, Kyung Ah; Kim, Eung Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In order to rnaintain blood glucose in ao acceptable range, some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may be able to their level manage with diet and exercise alone, but others require oral agents or insulin. To assess which factors gave important influences on therapeutic methocls, we investigated clinical characteristics and life-style in the type 2 diabetic patients who could be managed with diet and exercise alone.
METHODS
We recruited patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from Eulji Medical College Diabetes Center, who had dieted and exercised for over 3 years (99; group 1) and compared them with patients who were managed with oral agents (130; group 2) or insulin (47; group 3). We conducted the retrospective evaluation of age, sex, duration of DM, initial and recent BM1 (body mass index), serial HbA 1c, skipped period ratio of hospital follow-up, self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) or urine sugar, diet and exercise and educational chance for diabetes with dependency of folk remedies.
RESULTS
The duration of the DM was significantly shorter in group 1 than in group 2 or 3 (p<0,05). Initial BMI and HbA. were not different among these three groups, but HMI reduction was more decreased in group 1 (p<0.05). The mean HbA, during follow-up was lower in group 1 (p<0.05). The skipped period ratio of hospital follow-up was lower in group 1 (p<0.05). SMBG was less frequent, the meal-time was more regular, extra-snacks were less frequent and folk remedies were rarely tried in group 1.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the duration of DM, BMI reduction and mean HbA 1c, were associated with the therapeutic method in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We would like to a]so emphasize the importance of SMBG, meal-time regularity, extra-snacks and folk remedies in the education of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.