Background: Whether behavioral approaches for selfmanagement programs benefit individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus is unclear.Purpose: To determine the effects of behavioral programs for patients with type 1 diabetes on behavioral, clinical, and health outcomes and to investigate factors that might moderate effect. Study Selection: 36 prospective, controlled studies involving participants of any age group that compared behavioral programs with usual care, active controls, or other programs.
Data Extraction:One reviewer extracted and another verified data. Two reviewers assessed quality and strength of evidence (SOE).
Data Synthesis:Moderate SOE showed reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) at 6 months after the intervention compared with usual care (mean difference, Ϫ0.29 [95% CI, Ϫ0.45 to Ϫ0.13] percentage points) and compared with active controls (Ϫ0.44 [CI, Ϫ0.69 to Ϫ0.19] percentage points). At the end of the intervention and 12-month follow-up or longer, there were no statistically significant differences in HbA 1c (low SOE) for comparisons with usual care or active control. Compared with usual care, generic quality of life at program completion did not differ (moderate SOE). Other outcomes had low or insufficient SOE. Adults appeared to benefit more for glycemic control at program completion (Ϫ0.28 [CI, Ϫ0.57 to 0.01] percentage points) than did youth (Ϫ0.12 [CI, Ϫ0.43 to 0.19] percentage points). Program intensity appeared not to influence effectiveness; some individual delivery appears beneficial.Limitations: All studies had medium or high risk of bias. There was scarce evidence for many outcomes.
Conclusion:Behavioral programs for type 1 diabetes offer some benefit for glycemic control, at least at short-term followup, but improvement for other outcomes has not been shown. T ype 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood and adolescence, is increasing in prevalence in the United States (1). The landmark DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial) and its related longitudinal study (EDIC [Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications]) found that intensive glycemic control prevents development and progression of micro-and macrovascular complications (2, 3) and death (4). However, the intervention was initiated early (duration of T1DM <3 years for prevention group) in relatively young (mean age, 27 years), healthy patients. A meta-analysis of 12 trials of intensive control in diverse patient populations confirmed only a reduction in development of microvascular complications. Authors of that analysis stressed that benefits may apply only for interventions initiated early and should be weighed against risks for severe hypoglycemia (5). Factors other than glycemic control appear necessary to improve outcomes. For instance, intensive lowering of blood pressure has reduced major cardiovascular events by 11% (6). In addition, findings from 2 large cross-national studies support interventions to address other outcomes of importance for patients, suc...