Objective: A randomized trial with 1-year follow-up was conducted in 23 general practices to study the relationship between target values for glycemic control and well-being in type 2 diabetes.
Research design and methods: A total of 176 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 40-75 years, were included. General practitioners were encouraged to make decisions according to a standardized step-up regimen until the target level of glycemic control was reached. The random allocation to a strict or a less strict target level of glycemic control (fasting capillary glucose < 6.5 or < 8.5 mmol/l), change in HbA1c and fasting glucose, and initiating insulin or treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents were studied as putative determinants of scores on a type 2 diabetes symptom checklist, a profile of mood states, an affect balance scale, and general well-being. Adjustments were made for baseline scores on the outcome at issue.
Results: Positive affect (an odds ratio [OR] [95% CI] of 0.39 [0.19-0.83]) and perceived treatment burden (OR 0.48 [0.23-0.98]) were unfavorably altered in the group randomly allocated to stricter target levels (fasting capillary glucose < 6.5 mmol/l). Patients who had a decrease in HbA1c of 1% or more tended to have comparatively favorable mood (OR displeasure score 0.35 [0.13-0.94]) and general well-being scores at 1 year (ORs of having unfavorable scores ranged from 0.4 to 0.5, NS).
Conclusions: Perceived treatment burden and positive effect are unfavorably affected by random allocation to a strict target level for glycemic control. Improved glycemic control is associated with favorable mood and possibly general well-being in type 2 diabetes.