The influence of behaviour upon the quality of the life of patients with diabetes, the level of self-care and clinical parameters

Abstract

Background. Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes is related with long-term complications, functional disorder and insufficiency of some organs, in particular eyes, kidneys, heart and complications related to the nervous system and blood vessels. Diabetes occurs with the different intensity in all races, populations and at every age. Objectives. The goal of the paper is to present answers to the following questions: 1. What influence does the behavioural style exert upon the quality of life of patients having diabetes? 2. What influence do types of behaviour exert upon the level of self-care of patients having diabetes? 3. How does the behavioural style influence clinical parameters? Material and methods. The research was conducted among 100 patients having diabetes within the age between 18 and 85, treated in the Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Therapy in Wrocław. In the researched group 40 patients received insulin treatment, 27 patients received oral hypoglycemic drugs, 23 patients received the combination therapy, 10 patients were treated only with the diet. The research methods embraced two questionnaires created by the researcher and an analysis of the medical documentation. Results. After conducting the analysis the following conclusions were observed: style 1. non-adaptive, focused on avoidance represented by 20 patients; style 2. non-adaptive, focused on experiencing emotions and passive approach, represented by 33 patients; style 3. focused on problem-solving, represented by 35 patients; style 4. focused on finding the best solution of the problem, represented by 12 patients. Depending on the style patients show different attitudes to the fight with the disease. Conclusions. The research showed differences in perceiving the illness in relation to the behavioural style. The analysis made it clear that the behavioural style influences the quality of life of patients suffering from diabetes, the level of the self-care and clinical parameters.