Health beliefs of insulin dependent diabetics and non-insulin dependent diabetics

Abstract

The descriptive study which explored the insulin dependent diabetics' and non-insulin dependent diabetics' perceptions of susceptibility to diabetic complications, severity of diabetes, and benefits of and barriers to preventive measures. The Wortell Diabetic Perception Scale was developed by the researcher for this study, and administered to a convenience sample of 71 subjects. The Subjects' age ranged from 22 to 80 years. There were 33 females and 38 males in the sample. Forty three percent of the diabetics were classified as insulin dependent diabetics and 57% as non-insulin dependent diabetics. Findings indicated that insulin dependent diabetics perceived diabetes to be significantly more severe than did non-insulin dependent diabetics. No significant difference was found to exist between the insulin dependent diabetics and non-insulin dependent diabetics with regards to perceived susceptibility to diabetic complications, and benefits of and barriers to preventive measures.