Page 170 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 170
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 168 Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglyce-
mia due to disturbances in the secretion and/or function of insulin, resulting
in disturbances in the function of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins (Ryden et
al., 2007). There are different types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational di-
abetes (Khan et al., 2019), secondary type of diabetes, hybrid types of diabe-
tes and unclassified types (World Health Organization, 2019). Diabetes can be
termed as a non-communicable epidemic. The number of diabetics is increas-
ing rapidly, especially type 2 diabetics. In the treatment of diabetics, medi-
cal education is of great importance. Its aim is to enable the patient to control
his own disease, to take over self-control and thus prevent the complications
of inadequately treated diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is primarily a disease of old-
er adults, as it usually occurs after the age of 40. It occurs after the age of 40.
It accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases, although unfortunately it is al-
so more common in young people, especially in developed countries (Weale
et al., 2019). Sokolov (2012) explains that in this type of diabetes, the pancreas
produces insulin, but in small amounts, or the body has developed a resistance
to it. It occurs quite inconspicuously, as patients often do not become ill until
they already have chronic complications due to the disease or. find out during
a random examination. Risk factors for a person to develop this type of diabe-
tes are: Age, obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension and dyslipidemia, hered-
itary predisposition, and women with gestational diabetes during pregnancy
(American diabetes..., 2013; Mrevlje, 2005).
Education is part of general education and a basic task of nurses (Dolinar,
2016; Janjoš et al., 2012). The patient must actively participate in the treatment
process, for which he must be properly informed, motivated and educated if he
is to be able to properly manage his disease (Janjoš et al., 2012; Poljanec Bohnec,
2016). Education involves a multidisciplinary team whose goal is to achieve the
highest possible quality of life and prevent exacerbation of the disease (Poljan-
ec Bohnec, 2016). Most patients are overweight, have elevated triglycerides and
often hypertension (Tomažin Šporar, 2012), so they need to learn to measure
and control blood glucose and blood pressure and adjust therapy accordingly
(Pandit et al., 2014). In this way, they increase their autonomy, prevent glycae-
mia and consequent complications (Grégoire and Philis, 2017; Volčanšek and
Zaletel, 2016). Since many diabetics suffer from depression, it is important to
prevent this (Kaučič, 2020).
Methods
The aim of the study was to determine the awareness of type 2 diabetics about
their health status, the adequacy of health education provided by medical
staff and the motivation of patients to accept new information. The research
was based on a quantitative working method. For the purpose of the em-
pirical work, primary and secondary sources were collected, analyzed and
synthesized. Primary data for the analysis was obtained using a survey tech-
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglyce-
mia due to disturbances in the secretion and/or function of insulin, resulting
in disturbances in the function of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins (Ryden et
al., 2007). There are different types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, gestational di-
abetes (Khan et al., 2019), secondary type of diabetes, hybrid types of diabe-
tes and unclassified types (World Health Organization, 2019). Diabetes can be
termed as a non-communicable epidemic. The number of diabetics is increas-
ing rapidly, especially type 2 diabetics. In the treatment of diabetics, medi-
cal education is of great importance. Its aim is to enable the patient to control
his own disease, to take over self-control and thus prevent the complications
of inadequately treated diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is primarily a disease of old-
er adults, as it usually occurs after the age of 40. It occurs after the age of 40.
It accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases, although unfortunately it is al-
so more common in young people, especially in developed countries (Weale
et al., 2019). Sokolov (2012) explains that in this type of diabetes, the pancreas
produces insulin, but in small amounts, or the body has developed a resistance
to it. It occurs quite inconspicuously, as patients often do not become ill until
they already have chronic complications due to the disease or. find out during
a random examination. Risk factors for a person to develop this type of diabe-
tes are: Age, obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension and dyslipidemia, hered-
itary predisposition, and women with gestational diabetes during pregnancy
(American diabetes..., 2013; Mrevlje, 2005).
Education is part of general education and a basic task of nurses (Dolinar,
2016; Janjoš et al., 2012). The patient must actively participate in the treatment
process, for which he must be properly informed, motivated and educated if he
is to be able to properly manage his disease (Janjoš et al., 2012; Poljanec Bohnec,
2016). Education involves a multidisciplinary team whose goal is to achieve the
highest possible quality of life and prevent exacerbation of the disease (Poljan-
ec Bohnec, 2016). Most patients are overweight, have elevated triglycerides and
often hypertension (Tomažin Šporar, 2012), so they need to learn to measure
and control blood glucose and blood pressure and adjust therapy accordingly
(Pandit et al., 2014). In this way, they increase their autonomy, prevent glycae-
mia and consequent complications (Grégoire and Philis, 2017; Volčanšek and
Zaletel, 2016). Since many diabetics suffer from depression, it is important to
prevent this (Kaučič, 2020).
Methods
The aim of the study was to determine the awareness of type 2 diabetics about
their health status, the adequacy of health education provided by medical
staff and the motivation of patients to accept new information. The research
was based on a quantitative working method. For the purpose of the em-
pirical work, primary and secondary sources were collected, analyzed and
synthesized. Primary data for the analysis was obtained using a survey tech-
