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Dietary behavior and type 2 diabetes care.
Noemi B Albarran1, Martha N Ballesteros, Gloria G Morales
1Nutrition Division, Center for Research on Food and Development, Carretera a La Victoria Km. 0.6, Colonia La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico.
Patient Education and Counseling
|May 21, 2005
Summary
Behavioral change interventions improved nutrition knowledge for Mexican type 2 diabetics and their families, but did not significantly reduce health risks due to barriers like low income and lack of support.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Behavior
- Diabetes Management
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes is a significant public health concern, particularly in Mexico.
- Understanding socio-cultural factors influencing health behaviors is crucial for effective diabetes management.
- Previous interventions have shown mixed results in addressing complex behavioral change in diabetic populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore risk factor modification, barriers, and facilitators for behavioral change in Mexican type 2 diabetics and their families.
- To evaluate the impact of an intervention promoting dietary changes, physical activity, and diabetic knowledge.
- To identify socio-cultural influences on health care and diet modifications.
Main Methods:
- A risk assessment and impact evaluation using anthropometrics, diet, physical activity, nutrition knowledge, and HbA1c measurements.
- An intervention involving discussion groups and behavioral change promotion for 48 diabetic patients and 38 relatives over 8 months.
- Educational methods included cognitive reframing and situational problem-solving across five meetings.
Main Results:
- Participants (92% of diabetics, 83% of relatives) were at high health risk based on diet, obesity, physical activity, and HbA1c.
- Nutritional knowledge and diet-health awareness significantly increased post-intervention (p=.013 and .001).
- No significant reduction in overall health risks was observed despite improved knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Key barriers to behavioral change include lack of family/health service support, low income, neighborhood insecurity, and misinformation.
- The study highlights constraints in health promotion campaigns and health provider-patient interactions within the Mexican population.
- Findings contribute to understanding ethnic socio-cultural influences on health care, especially diet modifications.