O-30 Diabetes self-care in a Barbadian Population: with and without Diabetic Foot
Author(s):
A Greenidge , KR Quimby , I Hambleton , S Anderson , R Landis
Type Of Study:
- Analytical Study
- Quantitative
- Observational Study
Year of Presentation:
2022
Objective: To elucidate aspects of diabetes self-care which
may be risk factors for having a non-healing foot ulcer
Methods: The Wound Healing Study (WHY Study) is a case control study in adults with type II diabetes, recruited from the public Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Polyclinics and private physicians. Fifty Cases (diabetes and foot wounds) and 50 controls (diabetes and no foot wounds) were matched for age, sex and duration of diabetes. The Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities (SDSCA), a questionnaire on diabetes self-management which quantifies the management of various aspects of a diabetes care management regiment such as general diet, specific diet, blood-glucose testing, exercise, foot care and smoking, usually over the previous seven days was administered. Summary measures for diet, blood-glucose testing, exercise and foot care were the mean number of days per week on a scale of 0–7.
Results: Cases consumed their carbohydrates evenly throughout the day significantly less days per week than the controls, 0.8 days vs. 1.8 days respectively (adjusted OR 0.81 95% CI 0.66–0.99; p = 0.04). Cases exercised less than controls during the week, an average of 0.2 days of specific physical activity such as swimming, biking or walking for a minimum of thirty minutes, compared to the 1.5 days of the controls (adjusted OR 0.61 95% CI 0.43–0.86; p = 0.01).
Conclusion: There may be inadequate understanding among the diabetic population on the importance of selfcare activities in affecting diabetes complications and their progression.