1Diabetes Care & Research Centre, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, India
2Department of Foods & Nutrition, M.D.S. University, Ajmer, India
*Address for Correspondence: Dr. R.P. Agrawal, Adarsh Colony, Bikaner -334 003, Rajasthan, India Email: drrpagrawal@yahoo.co.in, Ph: 0091 151 2202431
Online published on 4 February, 2016.
To evaluate the impact of nutritional education and counseling on change in dietary habits and behaviour of type-2 diabetic patients.
The study was carried out on 180 type-II diabetics, belonging to the middle income group subjects who were on hypoglycemic drugs and not on insulin. The selection of the subjects was done on the basis of duration of the disease; i.e. diabetics suffering from, last 5 years (stratum-I) and last 10 years (stratum-II). Questionnaires were compiled to assess the knowledge (related to the disease) of the subjects prior and after the counseling. All the data obtained after counseling were assessed statistically applying ANOVA test.
The mean percent scores of knowledge calculated before and after the counseling were noted as 21.20 and 69.70 per cent in males and 15.60 and 55.19 per cent in females. We also observed a significant improvement in the mean blood glucose level (mg/dl) of the diabetic subjects prior (1.39) and after counseling (1.33). The level of knowledge scores was found to be slightly higher in male subjects as compared to female subjects and in the mean HbA1c (%) level of the diabetic subjects prior (0.48) and after counseling (1.6).
On the basis of the study we conclude that education is the most powerful mode for improving quality of life and management of diabetes.
Nutrition, Diabetes, hypoglycemic drugs
