«Patientundervisning vid diabetes — faktorer och åtgärder av betydelse för förändring av kostvanor»

Abstract

Diabetes is one of our most common national diseases and the number of patients falling ill with diabetes is constantly increasing.

The effects of diabetes can be reduced or even prevented by a healthy diet. Changing diet is, however, not an easy task. Traditional patient education has often succeeded in increasing knowledge, but failed in changing behavior. The aim of this study was to map how the nurse through patient education can help patients with diabetes to improve their diet. Existing literature on the subject was reviewed to identify factors that facilitate or prevent a change in diet among patients with diabetes. Educational interventions that promote a change in diet were also identified. Factors that facilitate a change in diet are positive attitudes towards the diet, knowledge about the diet, adequate social support, well developed problem-solving skills, motivation and self-confidence to change. Factors that prevent a change in diet are lack of time, insufficient knowledge, special occations, inadequate social support lack of diabetes-related self-control and lack of self-confidence to change.

Educational interventions that promote a change in diet is individalised and culturally adapted education, identifying obstacles, developing problem-solving skills goalsetting, follow-up and increasing social support.