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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : March 28, 2014 2:32 PM IST
Researchers have showed that patients with good diabetes self-management that is patients with a high self-management index, had a significantly lower mortality risk than patients with a low self-management index. Scientists of the Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management (IGM) and of the Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI II) at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (HMGU), together with colleagues of the German Diabetes Center (DDZ) in Dusseldorf, investigated the association between self-management behavior and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. (Read: How dark chocolate can help prevent diabetes)
340 study participants with type 2 diabetes were interviewed with regard to their patient behavior e.g. regular monitoring of blood glucose levels, having a diet plan or performing physical exercise. Based on this data a self-management index was defined. The team led by Professor Rolf Holle and Michael Laxy correlated the index with the mortality of the participants, who were monitored over a period of 12 years. Holle, group leader of the research group Economic Evaluation at the IGM, said that the results show that in addition to physician delivered treatment according to medical guidelines, the patient's behavior is also of great significance for the course of the disease and for the success of the treatment process. (Read: 10 healthy resolutions for diabetics)
He said that patient-centered services, such as diabetes education, self-management training and information services therefore make a valuable contribution to good patient care and should continue to be expanded. (Read: 10 tips to prevent diabetes)
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a life long disease that is characterised by increased levels of sugar in the blood. It is either caused due to lack of insulin (a protein that regulates blood glucose levels) or due to lack of response to insulinproduced by the body. Diabetes caused by lack of insulin is called type 1 diabetes. It develops due to fault in the genes that make insulin and is seen in young adults and teenagers. Diabetes caused by failure of response to insulin is called type 2 diabetes. It is more common type of diabetes and is found in adults. It is caused mainly due to lifestyle factors. Some of the common symptoms of diabetes are hunger, frequent urination and increased thirst. Factors like unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity are main contributing factors of type 2 diabetes. In fact, type 2 diabetes is one of the most common 'lifestyle diseases' which is plaguing people in the developed countries. Diabetes is also known to cause complications like heart diseasesand hypertension. In this section you will find answers to all your queries regarding diabetes. For example, why is it difficult to manage diabetes, how often you should use a glucometer to monitor blood glucose level, can you take honey if you are diabetic and much more. (Read: Diabetes Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and complications)
With inputs from IANS
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