Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Hygienic Engineering and Design, cilt.31, ss.73-81, 2020 (Scopus)
© 2020, Consulting and Training Center - KEY. All rights reserved.World Health Organization-WHO has defined health literacy as: “Health literacy represents the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health”. Nutrition literacy, which is parallel to the term of health literacy, could be defined as the capacity to learn, understand and practice nutrition information and skills needed to make suitable nutrition decisions. Low levels of health and nutrition literacy are associated with poorer use of health care services, poorer health status, failure to comply with medical instructions or suggestions, failure in the management of chronic diseases, lack of self-care, more hospitalizations, increasing in health expenditures and higher mortality rates. Diabetes is complex situation that need participation of patient in disease treatment. Diabetes selfcare which comprising carbohydrate counting, regular physical activity, monitoring of blood glucose and use of drug/insulin require to understand and practice complex health information. However, this self-care skills require adequate health and nutrition literacy. A study which conducted with 1399 participants with type 1 diabetes is demonstrated that higher levels of health literacy are associated with lower HbA1c level. Another study which is including 778 patients with type 2 diabetes showed that sufficient health literacy level is associated with increased good self-rated health of participants. In addition, mentioned study is demonstrated that sufficient health literacy is associated with decreased hospitalizations because of diabetes and its related complications. In the view of such information, the education which involving health and nutrition literacy in treatment of diabetes and in prevention of its complications is important. Dietitians and other health professionals should evaluate level of health and nutrition literacy level in patients with diabetes and then accordingdetermine the content of nutrition education for effetive treatment and control of diabetes.