Effects of an Intensive Management Program for Diabetic Patients on a Blood Biochemical Profile and Diabetes Knowledge / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of nutrition education and exercise therapies on the hematological status and diabetes knowledge of diabetic patients. For this purpose, a 12-week intensive management program was provided to diabetic patients participating in an exercise program in S health subcenter in Kwangju city and the effects were analyzed. METHODS: The subjects were 26 diabetic patients, who provided written informed consent. As a preliminary survey, this study examined the general characteristics, physical status, obesity, blood pressure, hematological status, daily activity level, diabetes knowledge, diet performance, and barriers to diet therapy. After the 12-week intensive management program was completed, a post-test was conducted in the same way as the preliminary test. The data were analyzed with using SPSS 18.0. The data from this study are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. A paired t-test was conducted to compare differences in the means before and after the program. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05. RESULTS: The results of the program are presented as follows. The HDL-cholesterol levels changed from 39.8 ± 10.5 mg/dL to 48.3 ± 13.1 mg/dL, showing a significant increase (p < 0.001). The blood sugar 2 hours after a meal changed from 175.2 ± 67.1 mg/dL to 140.5 ± 42.5 mg/dL, showing a significant decrease (p=0.014). The glycosylated hemoglobin levels decreased significantly from 6.7 ± 1.1% to 6.3 ± 1.0% (p=0.010). The total scores of the daily activity levels increased significantly from 3.8 ± 2.4 to 4.8 ± 2.5 (p=0.040). The scores of knowledge on diabetes increased from 11.5 ± 3.6 to 14.0 ± 3.8 (p=0.001). The scores of knowledge on diet therapy changed from 6.7 ± 2.2 to 7.9 ± 1.7, showing a significant increase (p=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week intensive management program intervened by nutrition education and exercise therapies induced positive changes to the HDL-cholesterol, blood sugar 2 hours after a meal, glycosylated hemoglobin, daily activity levels, and knowledge on diabetes.