RESEARCH ARTICLE
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
20
VOLUME 7 NUMBER 1 • MARCH 2010
more in line with the current study findings.
The fact that most subjects seemed to know what to do if
blood sugar levels went low (93.3%) and the consequences
of not taking their insulin injections every day (86.7%), how
many meals should be eaten in the day (83.3%), and the
effect on blood sugar level if they did not eat for a long
time or skipped a meal (83.3%) showed that these subjects
were familiar with basic and important aspects of dietary
management of type 1 diabetes. The fact that less than
half of the sample knew the importance of having a late-
12. What happens to your blood sugar levels if you eat too much starch or carbohydrate?
Blood sugar levels go down
Blood sugar levels go up
Nothing happens to the blood sugar levels
Do not know
10
15
2
3
33.3
50
6.7
10
15
50
13. Which of the foods below are examples of fat?
Rice, potatoes, bread
Apples, carrots, brown bread
Margarine, cooking oil, butter
Do not know
5
2
21
2
16.7
6.7
70
6.7
21
70
14. Why is it important not to eat too much fat?
It can make blood sugar levels go down
It could make you gain weight and have heart problems later on
It makes blood sugar levels go up
Do not know
4
15
9
2
13.3
50
30
6.7
15
50
15. Why is it important to have enough fibre from the foods you eat?
It keeps blood sugar levels well controlled
It tastes good
It can make diabetes go away
Do not know
13
4
3
10
43.3
13.3
10
33.3
13
43.3
16. Which of the following foods contain the most fibre?
Wholewheat bread, dried beans, vegetables, fruit
Eggs, chicken, fish, meat
Milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice-cream
Do not know
14
4
7
5
46.7
13.3
23.3
16.7
14
46.7
17. If you want to have an apple as a snack how much should you have at a time?
One small apple
More than one apple
As much as I like
Do not know
26
1
3
0
86.7
3.3
10
0
26
86.7
18. If you had to choose a plate of food to eat, which of the following would you choose?
A plate with rice and chicken
A plate with rice, carrots and chicken
A plate with rice only
Do not know
7
19
4
0
23.3
63.3
13.3
0
19
63.3
19. If you wanted to buy something from the tuck shop at school, which would be the best to buy?
Soft drink with sugar
A small fruit
Sweets
Do not know
2
26
2
0
6.7
86.7
6.7
0
26
86.7
20. If you want to do sport, when would be the best time to have a snack?
Before sport
After sport
During sport
Do not know
16
8
5
1
53.3
26.7
16.7
3.3
16
53.3
Table 3.
Difference in diet-related knowledge scores according to age
(
n
=
30)
Age group
n
Mean score (%)
±
SD
p
-value*
≥
6 and
<
8 years of age
18
61 ± 15
0.028
≥
8 and
≤
10 years of age
12
76 ± 20
*Independent samples
t
-test
Table 4.
Differences in diet-related knowledge scores according to hospital
clinic attended (
n
=
30)
Hospital clinic
n
Mean score (%)
±
SD
p
-value*
IALCH
22
71
±
15
0.038
Grey’s Hospital
8
56
±
23
*Independent samples
t
-test
