Health education and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Family Health Unit

Abstract

Introduction: Considered as a public health problem of great social and economic burden, the type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is treatable, and its complications are preventable through health education associated with a multiprofissional approach in primary care. Objectives: To investigate the factors that interfere in adherence to the treatment of DM2 and to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed intervention. Methods: It is an exploratory, longitudinal research of quantitative-qualitative approach. The search consisted by shared consultations and educational group developed in the Family Health Unit of Family Cajuru, localized in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, in the period from June to October 2016. The sample was composed of 12 adults affected by DM2. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; and qualitative data, composed of guiding questions, were evaluated by content analysis. Results: Most of the participants analyzed were overweight and obese. The most common comorbidities were hypertension and dyslipidemia; and obesity and smoking prevailed as risk factors. Among the reasons that negatively interfere in the therapeutic adherence of DM2, there are: lack of adequate nutritional guidance and poor communication between professional and patient. Conclusion: The shared inquiries and the education group have created, among professionals and users, room for informational sharing. In addition, glycemic indexes were reduced in 41% of participants during the study and the participants’ reports showed that the relationship of respect and trust was improved, effectively and consciously contributing to their treatment.