The level of knowledge of diabetic patients about diabetes their disease and the determination of traditional methods used among diabetes

The Level of Knowledge of Diabetic Patients About Diabetes Their Disease and the Determination of Traditional Methods Used Among Diabetics. Diabetes mellitus is a frequent systemic disorder with serious complications. In this study, our purpose was to clarify the profile of the traditional treatment policies among our patients, and to understand the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics and level of knowledge who applied these treatment methods, to see why they needed to apply the traditional treatment methods, and how did these treatment methods affected the regulation of diabetes. Research was performed in the central part of Afyonkarahisar on a total 200 individuals with diabetes for a periods of six months, out of which 100 was treated in the' inpatient services and in outpatient clinics and using traditional methods, and the remaining 100 did not use traditional methods. In order to investigate the traditional methods used by diabetes patients, the questionnaire of Michigan University measuring the level of knowledge concerning diabetes, the questionnaire of Dokuz Eylül University used for determining the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2 in Damlacık village and to evaluate the diabetes training program applied to patients with diabetes mellitus, and a questionnaire including the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of the patients and their latest fasting plasma glucose (FPG), non- fasting plasma glucose, HbAiC, triglyceride, and cholesterol values were used. X2 teşt and Student-t test were used to evaluate the findings obtained. In our study, it was seen that individuals of more advanced ages with lower educational levels that were housewives in general, and those who were involved in plants occupationally applied to the traditional methods mostly. It was observed that body mass index (BMI), FPG and non- fasting plasma glucose levels were higher in those cases, and they also used the diet products in the market more. It was seen that most individuals used the traditional treatments methods because they felt better that way, and in order to lower the blood glucose level. Our study has shown that individuals must be informed about the traditional treatments methods during diabetes training, and the relationships of the medical professionals and diabetic individuals must be established so as to prevent the concealing of the problems of the patient. No positive effect of the traditional methods used on the regulation of plasma glucose levels, body mass index, and serum lipid levels could be found in our study- It was found that %68 of the cases did not inform physicians about the traditional treatment methods they used. Key Words: Diabetes mellitus, traditional methods, care