فصلنامه پرستاری دیابت
سال دوم شماره 4 (زمستان 1393)

Diabetes is a major cause of patients’ loss of ability and hospitalization. Ziziphora clinopodioides lam belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is widely used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus due to its hypoglycemic properties. In the present study، we aimed to evaluate the effects of the hydroalcoholic extracts of Ziziphora clinopodioides lam on active pancreatic beta cells in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. In order to determine the number of active pancreatic beta cells، the rats were anesthetized by diethyl ether after treatment with the extracts. The pancreas was removed from the rats and fixated in 4% formaldehyde; afterwards، the pancreas was prepared for sectioning، using paraffin. Three-micron sections were prepared from the samples، and the number of active beta cells was evaluated by an immunocytochemistry kit. The results showed that the hydroalcoholic extracts of Ziziphora clinopodioides lam (100، 150، 200 and 300 mg/kg) increased the number of beta cells and insulin secretion in diabetic rats، compared to control diabetic rats. In other words، this plant could effectively increase the activity of beta cells in diabetic rats، compared to control rats. Therefore، Ziziphora clinopodioides lam could reduce serum glucose level in diabetic animals by increasing insulin secretion. According to the results، the hydroalcoholic extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides lam had hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin-diabetic rats by stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Therefore، based on the obtained findings، the traditional application of this plant may be confirmed.

Nowadays, diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases which can cause severe psychotic effects. Thus, determining factors affecting health is of tremendously important for improving psychological health of diabetic patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and resilience in diabetic patients. This cross-sectional study was of descriptive-analytical design. A total of 95 diabetic patients were selected by means of census sampling. Connor-Davidson resilience scale and multidimensional scale of perceived social support were applied to obtain data. To analyze the data, in addition to descriptive statistics, inferential statistical analyses including Pearson correlation coefficient, t-test, one-way ANOVA and linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS. The findings of this study showed a significant correlation between social support and resilience of diabetic patients (P<0.0001, r=0.54). Among the subscales of social support, social support of family, social support of the most important people in patients’ life and social support from friends had a significant relationship with resilience in diabetic patients (P<0.0001). The linear regression results showed that social support predicts 26 % of variance in resiliency. The results indicated that increased social support improves resilience of the diabetic patients which, in turn, aides individuals to encounter their problems.

Despite the progress in medical and non-medical interventions for the management of type II diabetes, this condition is still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. In order to hinder or reverse this trend, interventions based on various theories and models are of high signficance. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on Pender’s health promotion model on the lifestyle of patients with type II diabetes. In this clinical trial, patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The intervention group received an educational intervention based on Pender’s model (n=20) and the control group (n=20) received routine training. Data collection tools included a researcher-made questionnaire and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, which were completed before and three months after the intervention by the two groups. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, paired t-test and Chi-squre. The mean lifestyle score with regard to nutrition and stress management significantly improved in the intervention group (P=0.016). The findings indicated positive lifestyle changes, which confirmed the effectiveness of Pender’s model for improving health behaviors of patients with type II diabetes.

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic metabolic diseases all over the world and annually three million people die of diabetes. Currently, 3-5% of our country’s populations suffer from diabetes. This study aimed to determine the effect of telephone follow-up on self-care behaviors (e.g., diet, exercise, foot care, monitoring of blood glucose, use of medications) of diabetic patients. In this quasi-experimental study, 191 patients suffering from diabetes type 2, referring to Yazd diabetes center, were randomly selected through sequential sampling. Subsequently, they were divided into control and experimental groups. The questionnaire applied for obtaining data included the following: demographic information, disease information, diabetic self-care behaviors, test results and records of patients’ answers in telephone follow-ups. The obtained results demonstrate that the experimental group, with mean self-care behavior score of 217/07±11/29, had a statistically significant difference from the control group (p=0/000) suggesting that telephone follow-ups can effectively improve self-care behaviors of diabetic patients. Additionally, 1/80% of the population in the experimental group had satisfactory self-care behaviors before the study and 34/16% of them reached the desired level after the study. In the control group, on the other hand, 1/27% of the population had the desired level of self-care behaviors before the study and 17/6% of them reached the desired level after the study. In the experimental group, glycosylated hemoglobin decreased by 1/36%, (before the study: 8/7%±0/83 and after the study: 7/34%±0/72). While in the control group, glycosylated hemoglobin decreased by 5% (before the study: 8/7%±%0/74 and after the study: 8/31%±0/67). The obtained results suggest a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups. This study showed that long-term telephone follow-up can effectively improve self-care behaviors of diabetic patients.

Diabetes is a carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolic disorder syndrome. Symptoms of this disease include microvascular complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy and macrovascular complications such as coronary artery, peripheral vascular, and cerebrovascular diseases. Flavonoids, are polyphenolic compounds which are found in plants, vegetables and fruits containing the families of flavonols, flavones, total flavanols, anthocyanins, the first flavone-3, oligomeric and polymeric forms. These compounds have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-atherosclerotic, cardiotonic, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In order to conduct this review study, Magiran and SID databases were searched for Persian published articles and Pubmed, Google scholars and Science Direct were searched for the English ones during 2000-2014. Several studies have shown that flavonoids can reduce blood glucose and increase insulin secretion. Moreover, consumption of products containing flavonoids on a daily basis can aid with diabetes treatment. Flavonoids, increasing intracellular vitamin C, can be influential in lowering capillary permeability and boosting the immune system, and in turn, treating diabetes. Oral consumption of flavonoids is one of the most effective ways of affecting pancreatic beta cells and treating diabetes. On the other hand, consumption of flavonoids, which have high antioxidant activities, can help with clearing out free radicals. In addition, flavonoids can modulate endothelial functions, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, nitric oxide production and expansion of blood vessels, inhibiting platelet hyperactivity, proliferation and angiogenesis and accordingly, protect body against cardiovascular diseases. According to the findings of the reviewed articles, the flavonoids can inhibit oxidative stress and control diabetes.

Depression and anxiety are among the most important areas of research in various scientific fields. Severe depression and anxiety can aggravate different health conditions including diabetes. Therefore, individuals need to be informed about different preventive measures against anxiety and stress. This study was performed in order to identify stress and anxiety in type 2 diabetic patients and healthy individuals. In this descriptive study, the sample included 50 healthy individuals and 50 diabetic patients, referring to the Diabetes Clinic of Ardakan City during March-May 2014. The diagnosis of diabetes was confirmed by various laboratory tests, specialized physicians, patients’ medical history, and clinical signs. For data collection, 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and a demographic questionnaire were applied. After data collection and analysis, Cronbach's alpha for depression and anxiety was calculated to be 81%, 74%, and 78%, respectively. For descriptive and inferential analyses, t-test was performed, using SPSS version 19. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results indicated that male and female diabetic patients were not significantly different in terms of depression or anxiety. Also, no significant difference was found between normal and diabetic individuals regarding depression or anxiety. It seems that diabetic patients should pay particular attention to their psychological and emotional status, as well as their serum glucose level. Moreover, more attention should be paid to the symptoms of depression and anxiety in order to prevent the adverse side-effects.

Diabetes and depression are closely related to each other. The incidence of depressive symptoms in patients with diabetes is twice more than non-diabetic patients. Depression is considered as an independent predictor of the onset of diabetes. However, approximately in two thirds of diabetic patients depression is not diagnosed and remains untreated, which as a result, leads to worsening of diabetic complications. In order to improve both disorders, application of a proper diet as a basic strategy for depression management seems to be necessary. In order to retrieve the English and non-English published articles on this issue, PubMed, ISI Web Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct and EMBASE databases were searched during January 2000-May 2013. Few studies have been conducted on diabetic patients. Considering diabetic complications such as renal and coronary heart diseases, determining the appropriate range and type of various macronutrients is of utmost importance for diabetic patients suffering from depression. In the present study, the available data regarding the treatment of depression in diabetic patients have been investigated. Isolating the impact of a single nutrient on the final results is particularly difficult. Given the pathophysiological similarity of depression and metabolic syndrome, same dietary recommendations are applicable for both.