Authors : ANJALI RAJWADE
Page Nos : 284-286
Description :
Diabetes mellitus (DM) adversely affects health & life. DM is a life style disorder aggravated by nutritional imbalance, lack of exercise and absence of focused approach. The objectives of the present study were therefore, to prepare a holistic nutrition education package (HNEP) for DM and to use it to assess its impact in DM control in a group of middle aged women (MAW). An HNEP for DM was designed. From a larger group of diabetic MAW, a study sample of 70 with non insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and having Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) more than 7 was formed. Data about dietary practices, exercise, BMI, focused approach was collected before and after HNEP administration. Education session was repeated fortnightly for six months. HbA1c levels were reassessed at 4 months and 6 months. Assessment at the end of 6 months revealed that adoption of breakfast + lunch + snacks + dinner pattern was 7.14% before and 84.29% after the HNEP. Lunch + dinner pattern was 58.57% before which shifted to 4.29% after HNEP showing significant positive change in healthy dietary practices. Food intake as per Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) improved from 21.43% to 95.71% and fatty food consumption decreased from 91.43% to 14.29% whereas roughage food consumption increased from 15.71% to 90.00%. Regular exercise regime adoption improved from 7.14% to 56.71% due to HNEP. BMI assessment showed significant reduction in overweight category from 51.43% to 22.86% and normal weight category had positive shift from 12.86% to 48.57%. Blood test for HbA1c level revealed that 22.86% respondents achieved < 7 level at the end of 4 months and 72.86% achieved < 7 level at the end of 6 months of HNEP application. DM was perceived as a nutrition related disorder and not a disease by 100% respondents and 100% respondents agreed that the trio of diet + exercise + determination is the main determinant of diabetes control. HNEP has a positive, wide ranging and sustainable impact in DM control.
Keywords – Diabetes, Nutritional Education , Recent trends, Nutritional science
