Quality of life in type 2 diabetes patients

Kvaliteta života postala je interesom na području zdravstvene zaštite kroničnih bolesnika a time i bolesnika sa šećernom bolešću tip 2. Iz perspektive zdravlja, kvaliteta života se odnosi na fizičko, emocionalno i socijalno blagostanje bolesnika tijekom liječenja, te utjecaj bolesti na nesposobnost bolesnika i njegovo svakodnevno funkcioniranje. Loše zdravlje je jedan od čimbenika koji negativno utječu na život pojedinca. Kvaliteta života postaje slabija djelovanjem osnovne bolesti i njenim komplikacijama. Šećerna bolest jedna je od najučestalijih kroničnih nezaraznih bolesti. To je progresivna bolest s ozbiljnim komplikacijama koje mogu narušiti kvalitetu života i životni vijek. Predstavlja javnozdravstveni problem suvremenog društva i vrlo je važan čimbenik u razvoju kardiovaskularnih bolesti, onesposobljenja i invaliditeta kao posljedica njenih komplikacija. Istraživanja kvalitete života karakteriziraju usmjerenost na pojedinca ali i ističu važnost sagledavanja osobe u cijelosti, s njezinim biološkim, psihičkim i socijalnim karakteristikama. Cilj liječenja osoba sa šećernom bolešću je otklanjanje simptoma vezanih uz povišenu razinu glukoze u krvi, smanjenje kroničnih makrovaskularnih i mikrovaskularnih komplikacija šećerne bolesti, a time i omogućavanje što kvalitetnijeg načina života. U liječenje i samokontrolu najvažnije je aktivno uključivanje bolesnika, jer bez vlastite volje bolesnika nema ni adekvatnog liječenja. Bolesnike treba dobro educirati, a samo dobrom edukacijom bolesnik će preuzeti i veću odgovornost za vlastito zdravlje i time poboljšati samopercepciju o kvaliteti života.The quality of life has become a focus of interest in the field of health care of all chronic patients, including those with type 2 diabetes. From the perspective of health, the quality of life relates to the physical, emotional and social well-being of patients during treatment, as well as the impact the disease exerts on their disability and daily functioning. Poor health is one of the factors negatively affecting a person’s life. The quality of life is weaker under the influence of the principal disease and its complications. Diabetes ranks among the most common chronic non-infectious diseases. It is a progressive disease causing serious complications which can reduce the life quality and life expectancy. It is a major public health problem in contemporary society and an important factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases, impairments and disabilities which result from its complications. Research on the quality of life is characterized by placing a focus on individuals, but also emphasizes the importance of approaching a person as a whole, with all their biological, psychological and social characteristics. The aim of treatment of diabetic patients is to eliminate the symptoms related to high blood glucose levels and to reduce the chronic macrovascular and microvascular complications of diabetes, thereby providing them with the best possible quality of life. Apart from medical treatment and self-control, the most important step is to actively engage the patients because a lack of their active involvement impedes adequate treatment. Patients should receive good education on the disease because that is the only way to render them willing to take more responsibility for their own health, thereby improving their self-perceived quality of life