DIABETES MELLITUS: AWARENESS OF DISEASE AND LIFE STYLE CHANGES IN FEMALE PATIENTS
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Keywords:
Diabetes, Lifestyle changes, Patient education
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Abstract
Objective: To test the knowledge of female diabetic patients about basic facts of their disease and life style changes required for effective control of diabetes mellitus.
Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on patients visiting the outdoor patient department or admitted in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. One hundred female patients with diabetes mellitus for at least six months were included and interviewed about their knowledge of diabetes mellitus and required life style changes.
Results: Fifty (50%) patients had absolutely no idea of the cause/symptoms of their illness. Thirty five percent gave polyuria and weakness as the cardinal symptoms of the disease. Regarding dietary modifications required, 65% reported importance of reducing refined sugars, 27% knew that along with refined sugars total calories also need to be curtailed. None of them had any idea of importance of reduction of fat or substitution of unsaturated fats. Regarding exercise, only 39% knew the benefits of a regular exercise and only 26% tried to follow a regular exercise program. Finally when patients were inquired about symptoms/management of hypoglycemia, 47% were not clear on how to recognize or treat such a potentially fatal emergency. Forty four patients were on insulin and of these 28 (63%) could not inject themselves. Someone else in the family had to do this job for them. Only 13 admitted use of indigenous medicine along with regular treatment.
Conclusion: We conclude that apart from therapeutic efforts, serious attention should be paid toward patient's education otherwise all efforts to control diabetes will fail.
Material and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on patients visiting the outdoor patient department or admitted in Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi. One hundred female patients with diabetes mellitus for at least six months were included and interviewed about their knowledge of diabetes mellitus and required life style changes.
Results: Fifty (50%) patients had absolutely no idea of the cause/symptoms of their illness. Thirty five percent gave polyuria and weakness as the cardinal symptoms of the disease. Regarding dietary modifications required, 65% reported importance of reducing refined sugars, 27% knew that along with refined sugars total calories also need to be curtailed. None of them had any idea of importance of reduction of fat or substitution of unsaturated fats. Regarding exercise, only 39% knew the benefits of a regular exercise and only 26% tried to follow a regular exercise program. Finally when patients were inquired about symptoms/management of hypoglycemia, 47% were not clear on how to recognize or treat such a potentially fatal emergency. Forty four patients were on insulin and of these 28 (63%) could not inject themselves. Someone else in the family had to do this job for them. Only 13 admitted use of indigenous medicine along with regular treatment.
Conclusion: We conclude that apart from therapeutic efforts, serious attention should be paid toward patient's education otherwise all efforts to control diabetes will fail.
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Shahzad A, Abbasi SM, Ashraf U, Gul S. DIABETES MELLITUS: AWARENESS OF DISEASE AND LIFE STYLE CHANGES IN FEMALE PATIENTS. J Postgrad Med Inst [Internet]. 2011 Jul. 27 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];23(1). Available from: https://jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/59
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