| dc.description.abstract | Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a disease previously known for "the rich'', has become a health problem affecting both the rich and poor. The disease has increasingly become prevalent in adults and the elderly. Diabetes mellitus is a medical complication characterized by an elevation of blood glucose level. In 2015, it was estimated that there were 408 million people with type 2 diabetes in the world. This accounted for about 90% of diabetes cases. However, with the increasing prevalence of T2DM, there has not been enough sensitization about this killer disease.
Diet, exercise and behavioral approaches represent the key for management and prevention of diabetes. More important, consumption of dietary fibers was inversely related to T2DM and CVDs. Researchers stressed that, consumption of more than 26g a day had an 18% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest intake. Fibre is related with a variety of physiological effects and some health benefits include reduced risks of obesity, CHD and diabetes.
This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and consumption patterns of fibre rich foods among diabetic patients at Kiruddu Hospital. Specific objectives included; i) assessing the knowledge on health benefits of consuming dietary fibre, ii) assessing the consumption patterns of fibre rich foods, iii) determining their nutritional status and iv) determining the lifestyle factors used in management of diabetes among diabetic patients at Kiruddu Hospital.
Majority of the respondents were female (62%), and most of the respondents were educated to at least primary level (48%). The majority (70%) of the respondents were overweight and obese. Results from the study showed that majority of the people were not engaged in smoking (85% non-smokers) and alcohol consumption (51% non-drinkers). Majority (60.2%) of the respondents had knowledge on fibre and had attained it from medical workers. There was a significant relationship between knowledge of fibre and consumption of fibre among the patients but food sources of fibre were mainly consumed occasionally by the respondents.
There was awareness on fibre among the diabetic patients at Kiruddu Hospital and patients had knowledge on some of its uses in the management of diabetes especially glycemic control. However, there is need for sensitization on frequency and amount of fibre the patients should consume. | en_US |
