Level of knowledge concerning diet in type 2 diabetic patients and nurses

Among patients with diabetes, there are many myths concerning food products which are believed to lower or not influence the blood glucose (BG) level. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of patients with diabetes and hospital nurses concerning popular food products and their impact on BG levels.

The study group consisted of 250 patients with diabetes (DM), members of the Polish Diabetes Association; the other group consisted of 123 healthy nurses (N) from 3 hospitals in Szczecin, Poland. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on products common in diabetic diet (grapefruit, honey, coffee substitute, diabetic chocolate, milk soup, pork neck) and their influence on BG levels.

The highest percentage of wrong answers was given for pork (DM 71%; N 83%, NS) and grapefruit (DM 51%; N 77%, p < 0.01), while the most correct answers were for honey (DM 69%; N 80%; p < 0.05) and milk soup (DM 64%; N 67%, NS). Negative correlation was found between the number of correct answers and the age of patients (r(s) = −0,14; p < 0.01;) and no correlation between the number of correct answers and the duration of diabetes mellitus (NS). Patients treated with insulin provided correct answers significantly more frequently than patients on oral medication only (44% vs 34.8%; p < 0.01).

1. The level of knowledge concerning products commonly used in diabetic diet among patients with diabetes and hospital nurses is low. 2. Both groups, patients and hospital nurses, need education about diabetic diet.