Self-care in diabetes patients at Guayaquil Guasmo Sur Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels), result
of lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or insufficient insulin and resistance to it (type 2 diabetes), both are associated with microvascular and cardiovascular complications that substantially increase the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease and reduce the quality of life. The self-care concept, in DM, is relate to multiple factors, ranging from healthy eating, glycemic self-monitoring medication use, regular physical activity, foot care and healthy training, until risk reduction. Objective: To determine the self-care of patients with diabetes at Guasmo Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Materials and methods: It was established a quantitative methodology,based on a non-experimental design, crosssectional field type, with descriptive level. It was selected a sample of 25 patients with a diagnosis of DM2 from the external consultation area of the Guasmo Sur Hospital of the Guayaquil city, to which a survey had applied. Results: The 40% of patients reported having a healthy diet during four of the last 7 days, prior to the survey. The 24% of patients report performing at least 30 minutes of physical activity 4 days a week. The 40% of patients indicated to perform the blood glucose test 5 times a week. Conclusions: Patients with diabetes have knowledge of their condition, so they take care of the difficulties that their condition presents.