Self-Care of Diabetic Patients in the Community on the Culture of Wisdom

Abstract

          This is quantitative research aimed to study self-care of diabetic patients in the community on the culture of wisdom. The sample comprised 30 diabetic patients in Maluan sub-district, Phun Phin district, Surat Thani selected using purposive sampling to inclusion criteria. The research instrument was demographic questionnaire and Semi-structured interview about self-care of diabetic patients in the community on the culture of wisdom.   Data were collected used in-depth interviews, non-participative observations and field notes in collecting data. Content analysis was applied for the data analysis.

        The study revealed three following important findings. 1) Knowledge and understanding of diabetes. The informants explained that knowledge and understanding about diabetes is important to help them practice effectively self-care. The informants can apply them in eating healthy and disease-appropriate diet, exercise, taking medicine, and adjusting their self-care life style. 2) Perceived their present health status. Most informants perceived that they could control over their diabetes and they accepted their chronic and incurable diabetes that needed to be continuously treated and practice good self-care regularly.   3) Self-care.  Informants accentuated their diet control, exercise, and adjusting the dosage of medicine accordingly to their life style, culture, and local wisdom. Their culture and local wisdom practices include Thai massage, Nora Aerobic (Southern dance integrated with aerobic dance), muscle stretching to prevent joint stiffness. In addition, they used herbs such as wild bitter cucumbers, pandan leaves, ivy gourd, aloe, and holy basil leaves to keep their blood sugar in constant level.