Self-care and clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

José Thiago de Sousa; Suyanne Freire de Macêdo; Jayne Ramos Araújo Moura; Ana Roberta Vilarouca da Silva; Eduardo Emanuel Sátiro Vieira; Adriana da Silva dos Reis

doi:10.15253/2175-6783.2015000400004

Authors

José Thiago de Sousa
Suyanne Freire de Macêdo
Jayne Ramos Araújo Moura
Ana Roberta Vilarouca da Silva
Eduardo Emanuel Sátiro Vieira
Adriana da Silva dos Reis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2015000400004

Keywords:

Self-Care, Chronic Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Nursing.

Abstract

Objective: to verify characteristics related to self-care and clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: descriptive and exploratory, cross-sectional study, conducted with 173 patients assisted in 12 Family Health Units in the urban area of a city in the Northeast region of Brazil. Results: most participants (61.3%) were female, aged less than 60 years old. There were significant differences in the lower glycemic control (p = 0.014), capillary glycemia (p = 0.018) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.015) for men as well as higher central obesity indexes for women (p = 0.000). It was observed high frequency of overweight, abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose levels and insufficient levels of physical activity. Conclusion: there is the need for nursing actions aimed at improving self-care and control of the clinical parameters in these patients.