Nutrition Education Regarding the Glycemic Index on the Knowledge of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Knowledge is one of the keys to diabetes management. Increasing knowledge is an effort to improve their lifestyle to maintain the stability of their blood sugar, one of which is through the media booklet. The booklet is an influential media in nutrition education to improve diabetes mellitus patient knowledge related to the glycemic index. AIM: This study aims to analyze the effect of nutrition education on the knowledge of DM patients about the glycemic index. METHODS: It was quantitative research using a quasi-experimental research design, with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The total sample consisted of 46 respondents: A treatment group (23 respondents) and a comparison group (23 respondents). Nutrition education was conducted through poster media in the control group and booklet media in the treatment group, given 3 times for 2 weeks in patients with diabetes. The Mann–Whitney test was used to analyze the respondent’s glycemic index characteristics and intake in the treatment and control, while paired t-test was conducted to determine the difference in the respondents’ level of knowledge before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The dependent t-test showed a significant difference in the average knowledge before and after the nutritional counseling with booklet media in the treatment group, p = 0.024 (α < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Nutrition education program regarding the glycemic index through booklet media was the potential to increase patients’ nutritional knowledge.