INTRODUCTION Good knowledge of diabetic patients about their disease is often not related with good glycemic control. The aim of this study was to determine the level of application of acquired knowledge about diabetes in recognizing and resolving hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions in patients who did or did not do blood glucose self-monitoring as well as the impact of self-monitoring on HbA1c during education of patients with diabetes type 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 91 patients with the type 2 diabetes who completed six months education about their disease in four family medicine practices in Tuzla Canton during the period from March to September 2005. The patients who did or did not do self-monitoring with glucometer were interviewed on knowledge about recognizing and resolving hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia by family physician and HbA1c was assessed at the beginning of the education, 3 months after reading the brochure (passive education) and additional 3 months of group (intensive) education. RESULTS Out of 91 interviewed patients, there were 29 who did self-monitoring by glucometer at the beginning of the education, 30 patients during the passive education and 34 after the intensive education. At the beginning of education, regardless of doing self-monitoring, the patients were less able to recognize and resolve hypoglycemia and even less hyperglycemia. At the end of education, their knowledge was better at both recognizing and resolving hypoglycemia (P=0.01) as well as at recognizing (P=0.01) and resolving hyperglycemia (P=0.001). In the patients who did self-monitoring the average value of the HbA1c did not improve significantly (P=0.44) compared to those who did not practice self-monitoring (P=0.10) during education. CONCLUSION Only one third of patients with type 2 diabetes had done self monitoring with glucometer and although their knowledge about hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia was improved during education, these patients did not have improved significant values of the HbA1c compared to patients who had not done self-monitoring.

In patients with diabetes type 2, good knowledge about disease often doesn't follow appropriate behavior in their life. Therefore, we wanted to find out basic level of disease knowledge and glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients, and after that impact of passive and intensive education on knowledge and glycemic control. Starting with 130 participants, 91 patients with type 2 diabetes, from four family medicine services in Tuzla Canton, completed six months education about their disease. Disease Knowledge Test of Michigan Diabetes Training and Research Center was used to evaluate knowledge about diabetes and glycaemic control was assessed by HbA1c. Participants were tested at the beginning of survey, after 3 months of passive education and additional 3 months of intensive one. Basic test showed good knowledge of participants (score 8,3 out of 15), improved knowledge after passive education (score 9,23) and intensive one (11,19) (P<0,0001). Demographic characteristics of patients (age, sex, living area, level of education, duration of disease and type of treatment) had no influence on disease knowledge and glycaemic control during education. Generally, patient education improved significantly glycaemic control by HbA1c reduction 0,45% (P=0,011) without significant differences between passive and intensive one. Education of patients improves both disease knowledge and glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic patients.