Transferring diabetes care to nurses appears to be safe for patients, according to a randomized, controlled trial published in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing. The Dutch study was conducted to determine whether the management of type 2 diabetes could be safely transferred to practice nurses without compromising patient care and satisfaction. The impetus for the study was the great burden placed on primary health care resources by diabetes. The 14-month trial followed 206 patients with diabetes who were cared for by either physicians or nurses. The primary end point was the mean decrease in glycated hemoglobin levels; secondary end points included blood pressure and lipid profile. The study results showed that not only was the care received from nurses (as measured by blood glucose, pressure, and lipid levels) equivalent to that from physicians, but patients also reported greater satisfaction with the care provided by nurses.