Web-based program improves diabetics' self care

Giving people with type 2 diabetes the opportunity to help manage their care online can substantially improve their long-term blood sugar control, new research suggests. Clinic visits alone aren't enough for many people with diabetes, Dr. James D. Ralston of the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle and colleagues note in the journal Diabetes Care. The researchers tested whether an Internet-based program might help patients to manage their care more effectively. The intervention gave patients access to the same medical records used by their primary care doctor, as well as the ability to e-mail health care providers. The program also provided feedback on blood sugar readings, a website with educational information on diabetes, and an interactive diary that allowed users to record information on diet, exercise and medications.