title: Health behaviour and its determinants among insulin-dependent diabetics. Results of the diabetes Warsaw study.
abstract: Health behaviour of a group of insulin-dependent diabetics and some factors influencing it have been described and analyzed. Aspects of health behaviour 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 years duration. A standard questionnaire included items on health behaviour, 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 behaviour 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.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000628:therapy; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000628:therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011044:Poland; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin