Self reported attitude and behavior of young diabetics about discussing their disease

A performa-guided survey was conducted among 47 young patients of diabetes mellitus (onset of diabetes < 30 years). Questions included were regarding the type of treatment, health status information about diabetes, and the as sumptions and experiences of the patients on certain psychosocial behavior. A total of 59.6% subjects said that they could disclose everything about t heir disease to their friends and acquaintances. Twenty-seven percent felt that they could divulge only partial information and 12.8% did not want to discuss their disease with their friends and acquaintances. Subjects who sa id that they could disclose about their disease felt that they could do so because they were putting a lot of effort into achieving better control of their blood glucose. One of the fears expressed about not discussing their disease was that in doing so people would treat them differently or perceiv e them as sick. However only 38% experienced such a change in the behaviour of their acquaintances. Seventy-three percent of them had received unsolic ited advice from others about food and dietary restrictions. Forty-three pe rcent of the subjects had received instructions from acquaintances to stop all treatment and shift to household remedies. Hypoglycemia could be a moti vating factor to help patients to discuss their illness with the acquaintan ces. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.