Changes in Conceptions and Attitudes During Five Years of Intensified Conventional Insulin Treatment in the Stockholm Diabetes Intervention Study (SDIS)

Previous studies have demonstrated that intensified treatment can result in lower blood glucose concentrations and retard microvascular complications. In the Stockholm Diabetes Intervention Study, 96 patients were followed for 5 years; 44 patients received intensified, conventional treatment and 52 patients received regular treatment. Changes in conceptions and attitudes that accompanied intensified treatment were evaluated with questionnaires and semistructured interviews. After education and personal tutoring, HbAlc was significantly lower in patients in the intensified treatment group compared with patients in the regular treatment group. Self-rated well-being and perceived ability to control the diabetes increased more in the patients in the intensified treatment group. Blood glucose testing became more important to the patients in the intensified treatment group, who used the blood glucose tests more frequently whenever necessary, and who acted on the test results. Microvascular complications were retarded or halted.