Self care behaviors in a rural population with diabetes

✍ Scribed by Audrey A. Irvine

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 823 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0738-3991
• DOI: 10.1016/0738-3991(89)90065-7

✦ Synopsis

Sixty-nine diabetic patients from three rural Appalachian communities were assessed on levels of diabetes knowledge, self-reported adherence and metabolic control. Adherence to diabetic self-care was inadequate for the maintenance of adequate metabolic control and the prevention of long term complications. Fewer than 20% of the patients stayed on their diet everyday. Only half of the sample tested their glucose levels, and those testing averaged only twice a week. Footcare was sporadic, and exercise was too infrequent for beneficial results. Only the medication regimen was closely followed. Diabetes knowledge averaged seven correct responses out of 24 total. Regression models were developed predicting self-care. A four-group discriminant analysis demonstrated that patients on oral medication, diet-only, and insulin regimens could be significantly discriminated using attitudes toward living diabetes and relative weight.