Health behaviour and its determinants among insulin-dependent diabetics. Results of the diabetes Warsaw study.

Health behaviour of a group of insulin-dependent diabetics and some factors influencing it have been described and analyzed. Aspects of health behaviour measured were: adherence to diet, insulin injection technique, urine self-testing and the pattern of action adopted in response to hypo- and hyperglycemia. Data were collected in 1975, from 170 insulin-dependent diabetics, aged 18-41, with known diabetes of from 6 months to 12 years duration. A standard questionnaire included items on health behaviour, knowledge of the disease and other factors. Of the subjects studied only 40% stated that they adhered to diet prescription. Occasional insulin injections were missed by 15%. Half the patients restricted diet or increased insulin dose in hyperglycemia but only 18% regularly tested urine for sugar. An important determinant of health behaviour was the level of understanding of the disease, which was found to be low among 58%. The present health education system for diabetic patients in Poland is discussed.