KNOWLEDGE OF DISEASE CAUSATION AND NUTRITIONAL ISSUES AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

This is a prospective study to assess the awareness of insulin actinology of diabetes mellitus among diabetics and also their knowledge of the role of various local food items in its management. Consecutive diabetes mellitus patients seen at the Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha over a 2-month period were interviewed with an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire on the cause of diabetes mellitus and food items that worsen or ameliorate the disease.

Of the 46 adults diabetics (M:F=1:1) interviewed only 2 patients (4.3%) knew that diabetes was due to insulin deficiency; 35 patients (76.1%) thought that diabetes was due to consuming starchy food. Forty-three patients (83.5%) believed that diabetes could be improved by eating beans or cocoyam or breadfruit; 29 (63.6%) felt that high fat diet was good for diabetes, while 40 (87%) were not sure of the role of leafy vegetable diet in the management of diabetes. It is concluded that both the awareness of disease actinology and nutritional knowledge of diabetics among this cohort are poor. Health education of diabetics is necessary to improve patients' understanding of the causes of disease and its dietary management.