Intensive structured education for type 1 diabetes management using BERTIE: Long-term follow-up to assess impact on glycaemic control and quality of life indices.

Aims: Bournemouth Type 1 Intensive Education (BERTIE) is a structured education course delivered 1 day a week for 4 weeks for self-management of type 1 diabetes. BERTIE outcomes were analysed to assess long-term effectiveness: primary outcome assessed impact of BERTIE on glycaemic control, secondary outcomes assessed impact on Problem Area in Diabetes (PAID) scale, severe hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis incidence (DKA).

Methods: Prospectively collected outcome data from attendees included glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), PAID, severe hypoglycaemia and DKA incidence recorded pre-course, 6 months and 1 year post-attendance, with HbA1c assessed annually at subsequent clinic visits.

Psychological themes that influence self-management of type 1 diabetes.

It has long been accepted that psychological factors adversely influence efforts to optimise glycaemic control. These are often unrecognised in terms of clinical assessment and therefore under reported. This essay presents an introduction to psychological issues that interact with psychiatric co-morbidities and diabetes-specific distress, and a case scenario illustrating the interconnectedness of presenting problems and themes.