Medical knowledge and health behaviors of patients with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is an illness that affects an increasing amount of people worldwide. It is estimated that in Poland around 9.1% of the population is afflicted. Research indicates that proper self-control, stemming from (among others) the patient’s knowledge of diabetes, can be an important factor in her health and well-being. The purpose of the conducted analyses was twofold: to determine the state of medical knowledge about prophylactics, specificity of the illness, risk factors, complications of diabetes and to assess the recognition of the terms: glycemic index and carbohydrate exchanges. The studied group consisted of persons diagnosed with type I and type II diabetes. 101 patients were examined in total. Self-prepared, highly standardized questionnaires were used as the research tool. Collected data indicates that a sizeable portion of the interviewees could not properly answer questions about the illness. The value of correct empty-stomach glycaemia was known to only 48.5% of the interviewees, while blood glucose concentration 2 hours after a meal was known to less than 25%. The terms glycemic index and carbohydrate exchanges were known to 8% and 9%, respectively. Over half (56%) of the interviewed patients declared that they adhere to precise dietary recommendations. Research indicates that patients have an understanding of the importance of regular glycaemia and blood pressure monitoring. However, their knowledge of the disease itself and of the basics of dieting is inadequate.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00. Publikacja dofinansowana z budżetu Urzędu Miasta Łodzi w ramach Konkursu ofert na realizację zadania: „Współpraca z wyższymi uczelniami” w zakresie promocji Łodzi jako ośrodka naukowego i akademickieg