EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON TYPE 2 DIABETES DIET AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE
Main Article Content
Keywords
Type 2 diabetes, educational disparities, diabetes diet, medication compliance
Abstract
Introduction: When dealing with chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, it's essential to understand the complex connection between socioeconomic factors and health disparities. Effective management of T2D requires consistent healthy eating choices and adherence to medication planned to prevent future complications. However, the challenge lies in the unequal distribution of resources to accept healthier lifestyles and access reliable information. This inequality makes diabetes management particularly challenging for certain individuals, influenced by societal injustices and educational gaps. This summary explores the different ways in which these educational inequities affect the management of T2D.
Objective: This study's purpose is to examine the challenges faced in managing Type 2 diabetes among individuals with lower levels of education. By identifying barriers, the research offers valuable insights into the factors delaying optimal diabetes management and places the basis for targeted efforts to address these inequalities.
Methodology: This research examines the challenges individuals with varying educational levels face when managing their type 2 diabetes through a descriptive cross-sectional method. This study was conducted from June 2023 to November 2023. Adult volunteers from the Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were selected by using a convenient sampling method. Statistical analysis was conducted by using IBM SPSS version 25. Among them were chi-square tests to evaluate possible correlations between educational level and diabetes treatment methods, frequency computations to find patterns in replies, and descriptive statistics to describe the gathered data.
Results: Seventy individuals, most of them female (85.7%), were studied on diabetes treatment at AIMS Hospital. Important results are a low smoking prevalence (95.7%), a strong family history of diabetes (47.1%), and varying lengths of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. While most individuals (80.0%) changed their diet, (61.4%) did not exercise regularly, underscoring the need for interventions. Medication and diet compliance were connected with education level. Results emphasize the importance of customized programs to improve overall diabetes control and address exercise behaviors.
Conclusion: The therapy of diabetes must address educational differences. Knowing how these differences affect adherence to diet and medicine guides assistance plans for people from underprivileged groups. These results provide important new information to public health initiatives that seek to lower the diabetes burden and enhance the well-being of those who are impacted.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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Easha-Tur-Razia
MBBS, PGT Medicine, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad, AJK Pakistan
Rubina Rafique
MBBS, Professor AJKMC, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad, AJK Pakistan
Abdul Khalid Awan
MBBS, HOD Medicine, Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad, AJK Pakistan