SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
RESEARCH ARTICLE
VOLUME 7 NUMBER 1 • MARCH 2010
19
Table 2.
Responses to the diet-related knowledge multiple-choice questions (
n
=
30)
Number of patients Answered correctly
n
%
n
%
1. Why is a properly planned diet important in people with diabetes?
It keeps blood sugar at the right level
It means that you do not have to take any insulin
It makes diabetes go away
Do not know
18
1
5
6
60
3.3
16.7
20
18
60
2. How often must you take your insulin injections?
Only when my blood sugar level is low
Only when my blood sugar level is high
Every day, according to the doctor’s instructions
Do not know
1
7
19
3
3.3
23.3
63.3
10
19
63.3
3. What can happen if you do not take your insulin injection every day?
My blood sugar level can go low
Nothing will happen
I can get sick – my blood sugar levels could go up and I may be admitted into hospital
Do not know
4
0
26
0
13.3
0
86.7
0
26
86.7
4. How many times a day should you test your blood sugar levels?
Before every meal
Once a day
Once a week
Do not know
19
4
3
4
63.3
13.3
10
13.3
19
63.3
5. How many meals should you eat in a day?
One
Two
At least three
Do not know
3
2
25
0
10
6.7
83.3
0
25
83.3
6. If you do not eat for a long time or skip a meal what can happen to your blood sugar level?
Blood sugar level can go up
Blood sugar level can go down
Nothing happens to blood sugar levels
Do not know
3
25
1
1
10
83.3
3.3
3.3
25
83.3
7. What must you do if your blood sugar levels go low?
Take insulin
Have a rest and wait for the blood sugar levels to come up on its own
Have a sweet or something sweet to drink and a snack afterwards
Do not know
1
1
28
0
3.3
3.3
93.3
0
28
93.3
8. What can happen to your blood sugar levels if you eat too many sweets when you are hungry?
Blood sugar levels go down
Blood sugar levels go up
Nothing happens to blood sugar levels
Do not know
1
27
2
0
3.3
90
6.7
0
27
90
9. Why is it important to have a late-night snack (before bedtime)?
To keep blood sugar levels at the right level while sleeping
To stay awake
To help you sleep at night
Do not know
14
0
14
2
46.7
0
46.7
6.7
14
46.7
10. If you want to have a sweet when can you have it?
After eating a meal
Whenever I like to have it
When my blood sugar level is low
Do not know
19
3
28
1
63.3
10
93.3
3.3
19
28
63.3
93.3
11. Which of the following foods are examples of starch or carbohydrate?
Chicken, fish, eggs
Margarine, butter, oil
Rice, bread, potatoes
Do not know
7
0
14
9
23.3
0
46.7
30
14
46.7
