A study of the empowerment of diabetics type-1

Pages: 406-409
Supriya Sioni and Kamayani Mathur (Department of Psychology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat)

Diabetes Mellitus(DM) is a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both (WHO 1999). Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common endocrine and metabolic conditions among children.With 70,000 newly diagnosed young people every year, the prevalence of type 1 DM is growing globally.Patients with diabetes must make aseries of daily decisions involvingnutrition, physical activity, medication,blood glucose monitoring, and stressmanagement. Empowerment plays a big role in managing diabetes.Patient empowerment refers to a process where people gain greater control over decisions affecting their health. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Diabetes Empowerment and type 1 diabetics in relation to Glycemic control and gender. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 40 type 1 diabetics equally divided genderwise and as per their glycemic control from various hospitals of Ahmedabad aged 15-25 years. Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES) was used to measure diabetes-related psychosocial self-efficacy.The results were statistically analysed using ‘t’ test. The findings revealed thatdiabetes empowerment was found to be more in diabetics having good glycemic control (HbA1c < 7.5) than diabetics having poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7.5). Type 1 female diabetics had better empowerment than male diabetics.