HEALTH BEHAVIOR AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETICS RESULTS OF DIABETES WARSAW STUDY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (2) , 117-122
Abstract
Health behavior of a group of insulin-dependent diabetics and some factors influencing it were described and analyzed. Aspects of health behavior measured were: adherence to diet, insulin injection technique, urine self-testing and the pattern of action adopted in response to hypo- and hyperglycemia. Data were collected in 1975, from 170 insulin-dependent diabetics, aged 18-41 with known diabetes of from 6 months to 12 yr duration. A standard questionaire included items on health behavior, knowledge of the disease and other factors. Of the subjects studied only 40% stated that they adhered to diet prescription. Occasional insulin injections were missed by 15%. Half the patients restricted diet or increased insulin dose in hyperglycemia but only 18% regularly tested urine for sugar. An important determinant of health behavior was the level of understanding of the disease, which was found to be low among 58%. The present health education system for diabetic patients in Poland is discussed.

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