IJCM_302A: Perceptions related to lifestyle modifications among Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients in tertiary care hospitals in Mangalore

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a chronic lifestyle disease which can be kept under control by some simple lifestyle modifications like blood sugar monitoring, dietary modification and exercise pattern. Diabetes mellitus (DM) appears to be a global epidemic and an increasingly major non-communicable disease threatening both affluent and non-affluent sections of the society. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals in Mangalore involving 109 participants. The study utilized the Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire to collect data. Practices were categorized as good or poor based on an average score, with scores above 75% indicating good and lower scores indicating poorer practices. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The dietary modifications were good in 7.3% of the subjects, exercise behavior in 14.67%, foot care practices in 12.6% and sugar monitoring in only 1% of the subjects. Being male and married was associated with better self-care behaviors. People belonging to low socio-economic status had better dietary modification habits. Conclusion: Self-care activities with respect to diet and sugar monitoring are poor in the population studied. The self-care activities relating to exercise behavior and foot care are good. Improving self-care behavior among patients with diabetes in India should start with adequate targeted health education.

Keywords

• diabetes
• self-care
• diet
• lifestyle