Diabetes care organization, process, and patient outcomes: effects of a diabetes control program.

Effects of a diabetes control program were evaluated in 17 primary health centers after 18 months' participation (17 nonparticipating centers served as controls). Studied were the effects of the program on the organization of diabetes care, on the process of care in terms of services delivered to patients, and on the outcomes of care as measured by improved self-care, dietary knowledge, and HbA1c values. While findings showed that patients from the intervention centers received a higher quality of service and monitored their blood glucose levels more often than did patients from the control centers, they did not demonstrate significantly better metabolic control. The reasons for this, and ways to improve the program are discussed.