Knowledge Regarding Weight Management Through Lifestyle Modification Among Overweight And Obese Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an estimated 80% of the affected population living in developing countries like Sri Lanka (Hu, 2011). Prevalence of diabetes in Sri Lanka, which was around 2.0 % in the early nineties, has increased by about five-fold during the last two decades. It is estimated that over 2 million people are suffering from diabetes (Katulanda et al., 2010). Overweight and obesity are becoming more prevalent in developing countries due to change in lifestyle. One in five adults in Sri Lanka has either diabetes or pre-diabetes. Weight maintenance within the target body mass index (BMI) helps to prevent many diseases especially diabetes. The relationship between the metabolic control and development of chronic complications of diabetes is an important aspect of patient management. The causes of type 2 diabetes are multi-factorial. Diet and physical activity are important modifiable risk factors that play a central role in the incidence, severity and management of diabetes. Overweight and obesity are the major risk factors for type 2 diabetic patients. Weight reduction is an important goal for overweight or obese type 2 diabetes, because it improves glycemic control. Moderate weight reduction (5% of body weight) can improve insulin action, decrease fasting blood glucose concentrations, and reduce the need for diabetes medications. Moreover, improvement in fasting blood glucose is directly related to the relative amount of weight reduction. According to the study result on May 2009 to November2013 at Diabetic Center, Teaching Hospital Jaffna, more than half of the population were overweight (20.5%) and obesity (33.8%) (Sujanitha et al., 2015). Therefore, there is important to necessary for accessing knowledge regarding weight management for the type 2 diabetic patients. Objective of the study is assessing the level of knowledge regarding overweight, obesity and weight management through lifestyle modification among overweight and obese type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients and to assess the relation between socio demographic factors associated on knowledge.