Background & objectives: Diabetes is a multi-factorial metabolic disorder caused by defects in insulin secretion/function or both. Diabetes has become a global problem because of increasing trend of elderly, socio-economic transformation and demographic changes. This study tried to evaluate the effectiveness of integration of diabetes control program in health networks and utilization of family practice in caring diabetics.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 462 type 2 diabetic patients with no complication detected in screening program in rural areas of Kordkoy district, Golestan province. The diabetic patients were divided into two groups using stratified random sampling. The incidence rates of eye and renal failure, diabetic foot ulcer, stroke and heart attack were compared between two groups.

Results: In this study incidence rate of retinopathy, nephropathy, diabetic foot ulcer, stroke and heart attack in patients were 9.7, 5.9, 3.5, 3.3 and 6.1%, respectively. Diabetic foot ulcers and heart attacks significantly correlated with quality of the care received (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that family practice plan was not successful enough to achieve its goals in preventing and reducing the short-term and long-term complications of diabetes in Kordkuy city.