'Calling for counseling' helps urban adult diabetics manage blood sugar

Washington DC: Calling for Diabetes! It is being said that periodic telephone counselling can be a highly effective, low-cost tool for lowering blood-sugar levels in minority, urban adults with uncontrolled diabetes.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers claim that the study's take-home message was that medications and printed self-management materials were necessary, but not sufficient to improve diabetes control.

Professor Elizabeth A. Walker said that people with diabetes need ongoing counselling about problem-solving and goal-setting for behavior change.

During the research, the participants were mailed printed diabetes self-management materials and were given counseling sessions via phone.

Lead author Shadi Chamany said that meeting people where they were and working on a long-term plan together was the best way to make gains in chronic disease.

She added that an intervention like this could be adopted by health systems and other organisations looking to improve diabetes outcomes through diabetes self-management interventions.

The study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.