scholarly journals Experiences of Online COVID-19 Information Acquisition among Persons with Type 2 Diabetes and Varying eHealth Literacy

Author(s):  
Anna Sjöström ◽  
Senada Hajdarevic ◽  
Åsa Hörnsten ◽  
Ulrika Öberg ◽  
Ulf Isaksson

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internet has been a major source of information for people to keep updated with news and guidelines. However, concerns have been raised about the ‘infodemic’, which includes the overabundance of online information and the spread of misleading information. Adequate eHealth literacy skills among world citizens have therefore been emphasized as vital during the pandemic. Persons with type 2 diabetes have been at increased risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19 disease. This study aimed to explore online COVID-19 information acquisition experiences among persons with type 2 diabetes and varying eHealth literacy. Fifty-eight participants filled out the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), along with a qualitative questionnaire with free-text questions. Additionally, 10 participants were interviewed. Thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns in participants’ experiences. Two domains were identified: perceived challenges with online information about COVID-19, and coping strategies to manage challenges. The perceived challenges were: being exposed to information overload, dealing with conflicting information, and being strongly emotionally affected. The related coping strategies were: protecting oneself, trusting authorities, taking command, and using common sense. These strategies often involved triangulation of the information obtained, including participants consulting their common sense, various sources, or family and friends. This paper highlights the crucial role of authorities in delivering online information, that according to health literacy principles, is easy to access, understand, and use. Furthermore, our results reinforce the importance of diabetes nurses, as well as healthcare professionals in general, in encouraging patients to share their Internet findings, promote information from reliable sources, and deliver tailored information that suits individual needs. Because our results underline the importance of social support in eHealth literacy and the assessment of online health information, the inclusion of family and friends needs to be increasingly considered in diabetes care. Due to the small homogenous sample, the results of this study cannot be generalized. However, the reader can assess the transferability to other situations and settings based on our contextual descriptions.

Diabetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 11-LB
Author(s):  
SIMON R. HELLER ◽  
ELISE HACHMANN-NIELSEN ◽  
KAJSA KVIST

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 1152-1160
Author(s):  
Imadeldin Elfaki ◽  
Rashid Mir ◽  
Faisel Mohammed Abu-Duhier ◽  
Chandan Kumar Jha ◽  
Adel Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Alawy ◽  
...  

Background:: Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are drug-metabolizing enzymes catalyzing the metabolism of about 75% of drug in clinical use. CYP2C9 represents 20% CYP proteins in liver cells and is a crucial member of CYPs superfamily. CYP2C19 metabolizes very important drugs such as antiulcer drug omeprazole, the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel and anticonvulsant mephenytoin. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP genes have been associated with unexpected drug reactions and diseases in different populations. Objective:: We examined the associations of CYP2C9*3 (rs1057910) and CYP2C19*3 (rs4986893) with T2D in Saudi population. Methods:: We used the allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) and DNA sequencing in 111 cases and 104 controls for rs1057910, and in 119 cases and 110 controls for rs4986893. Results:: It is indicated that the genotype distribution of rs1057910 in cases and controls were not significantly different (P=0.0001). The genotypes of rs1057910 were not associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) (P>0.05). Whereas the genotype distribution of rs4986893 in cases and controls was significantly different (P=0.049). The AA genotype of rs4986893 may be associated in increased risk to T2D with OR=17.25 (2.06-143.8), RR=6.14(0.96-39.20), P=0.008. Conclusion:: The CYP2C9*3 (rs1057910) may not be associated with T2D, while CYP2C19*3 (rs4986893) is probably associated with T2D. These findings need to be validated in follow-up studies with larger sample sizes and different populations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayantan Nath ◽  
Sambuddha Das ◽  
Aditi Bhowmik ◽  
Sankar Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Yashmin Choudhury

Background:Studies pertaining to association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes with risk of T2DM and its complications were often inconclusive, thus spurring the present study.Methods:Meta-analysis of 25 studies for evaluating the role of GSTM1/GSTT1 null polymorphisms in determining the risk for T2DM and 17 studies for evaluating the role of GSTM1/GSTT1 null polymorphisms in development of T2DM related complications were conducted.Results:Our study revealed an association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null polymorphism with T2DM (GSTM1; OR=1.37;95% CI =1.10-1.70 and GSTT1; OR=1.29;95% CI =1.04-1.61) with an amplified risk of 2.02 fold for combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null genotypes. Furthermore, the GSTT1 null (OR=1.56;95%CI=1.38-1.77) and combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null genotypes (OR=1.91;95%CI=1.25- 2.94) increased the risk for development of T2DM related complications, but not the GSTM1 null genotype. Stratified analyses based on ethnicity revealed GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes increase the risk for T2DM in both Caucasians and Asians, with Asians showing much higher risk of T2DM complications than Caucasians for the same. </P><P> Discussion: GSTM1, GSTT1 and combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null polymorphism may be associated with increased risk for T2DM; while GSTT1 and combined GSTM1-GSTT1 null polymorphism may increase the risk of subsequent development of T2DM complications with Asian population carrying an amplified risk for the polymorphism.Conclusion:Thus GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes mellitus alone, in combination or with regards to ethnicity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo ◽  
Jose Lopez-Lopez ◽  
Daniel Cohen ◽  
Natalia Alarcon-Ariza ◽  
Margarita Mogollon-Zehr

: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are two important risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular diseases worldwide. In Latin America hypertension prevalence varies from 30 to 50%. Moreover, the proportion of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension is very low. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus varies from 8 to 13% and near to 40% are unaware of their condition. In addition, the prevalence of prediabetes varies from 6 to 14% and this condition has been also associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The principal factors linked to a higher risk of hypertension in Latin America are increased adiposity, low muscle strength, unhealthy diet, low physical activity and low education. Besides being chronic conditions, leading causes of cardiovascular mortality, both hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus represent a substantial cost for the weak health systems of Latin American countries. Therefore, is necessary to implement and reinforce public health programs to improve awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, in order to reach the mandate of the Unit Nations of decrease the premature mortality for CVD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Summers

BACKGROUND People from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups are known to have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and face greater barriers to accessing healthcare resources compared to their “white British” counterparts. The main mediators of lifestyle behavioural change are gender, generation, geography, genes, God/religion, and gaps in knowledge and economic resources. Dietary and cultural practices of these individuals significantly vary according to gender, generation, geographical origin and religion. Recognition of these factors and implementing culturally sensitive interventions for type 2 diabetes prevention and management is essential in increasing knowledge of healthy eating, engagement in physical activity and improving health outcomes in BAME communities. Few health apps are tailored for BAME populations, and BAME communities are considered hard-to-reach. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to establish whether the Low Carb Program is a viable scalable solution that can be used as an effective tailored type 2 diabetes intervention for BAME communities. We hypothesized that by taking into account cultural sensitivities, providing the platform in native languages and personalising the platform in accordance with known barriers to health disparities including gender, generation, dietary preferences and religion, the app would engage BAME communities and improve type 2 diabetes related health outcomes. METHODS The study used a quasi-experimental research design comprised of an open-label, single-arm, pre-post intervention using a sample of convenience. All 705 adults with type 2 diabetes who had activated their referral to the Low Carb Program as a result of an NHS consultation between September 2018 and March 2019 were followed for a period of 12 months; mean age 54.61 (SD 16.69) years; 58.2% (410/705) women; 45.1% (318/705) white, 28.5% (201/705) Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi/Other Central Asian, 10.8% (76/705) Arab, 6.2% (44/705) Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups, 6% (43/705) black, 1.8% (13/705) other, (7/705) 1% Chinese/Japanese/Other East Asian. Mean starting glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 7.99% (SD 2.05%); mean body weight 88.96kg (SD 23.25kg). RESULTS Of the 705 study participants, 513 (72.76%) had completed the Low Carb Program at 12 months. There were statistically significant reductions in body weight and HbA1c in white, Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi/Other Central Asian, Arabic and black participants with the most significant differences in the Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi/Other Central Asian population HbA1c -1.18% (SD 1.49%) and weight 8.03kg (SD 10.65kg). 82.9% of all participants (419/705) of all participants lost at least 5% of their body weight. CONCLUSIONS Offering the culturally tailored Low Carb Program that empowers members to make dietary and lifestyle changes to different BAME groups is an effective and engaging tool in the management of type 2 diabetes. Most importantly, BAME populations in particular people from Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi and Arabic groups who achieve better health outcomes than their white counterparts.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Resham L Gurung ◽  
Rajkumar Dorajoo ◽  
Yiamunaa M ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Sylvia Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common among type 2 diabetes (T2D) and increases the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases. Shorter leukocyte telomere length is associated with CKD in patients with T2D. We previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with leukocyte telomere length in Asian population. In this study, we elucidated the association of these SNPs with CKD in patients with T2D using Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods The cross-sectional association of 16 leukocyte telomere length SNPs with CKD, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 ml/min/1.73m2 was assessed among 4,768 (1,628 cases, 3,140 controls) participants in the Singapore Study of Macro-angiopathy and Micro-vascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Nephropathy cohorts. MR analysis was performed using the random-effect inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, the weighted median, MR-Egger and Radial MR adjusted for age and sex-stratified by cohorts and ethnicity (Chinese and Malays), then meta-analysed. Results Genetically determined shorter leukocyte telomere length was associated with increased risk of CKD in patients with T2D (meta-IVW adjusted odds ratio = 1.51 [95% confidence interval, 1.12 - 2.12; P = 0.007; Phet= 0.547]). Similar results were obtained following sensitivity analysis. MR-Egger analysis (intercept) suggested no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy (β  =  0.010, P = 0.751). Conclusions Our findings suggest that genetically determined leukocyte telomere length is associated with CKD in patients with T2D. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the causal role of telomere length in CKD progression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Zareini ◽  
P.B Blanche ◽  
A.H Holt ◽  
M.M Malik ◽  
D.P Rajan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is common in patients with heart failure (HF), but knowledge of future cardiovascular events is lacking. Purpose We compared risk of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) or death versus ischemic events in real-life HF patients with new-onset T2D, prevalent T2D and no T2D. Methods Using the Danish nationwide registers, we identified all patients with HF between 1998–2016. The patients were separated in two different HF cohorts based on the status of T2D. One cohort consisted of HF patients with either prevalent or absent T2D at the time of HF diagnosis. The other cohort consisted of HF patients, who developed new-onset T2D, included at time of diagnosis. The two HF cohorts were analyzed separately. Outcomes for both cohorts were analyzed as time-to-first event as either an ischemic event (i.e. composite outcome of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease), HFH, or event-free death (not related to HFH or the ischemic event). For each cohort, we estimated the five-year absolute risk of ischemic event, HFH and event-free death, along with five-year risk ratio of HFH or event-free death versus ischemic events. Effects among subgroups were investigated by stratifying both cohorts based on age, gender and comorbidities present at inclusion. Results A total of 139,264 HF patients were included between 1998 and 2016, of which 29,078 (21%) patients had prevalent T2D at baseline. A total of 11,819 (8%) developed new-onset T2D and were included in the second cohort. The median duration of time between HF diagnosis and new-onset T2D diagnosis was: 4.1 years (IQR:1.5; 5.8). The absolute five-year risk of an ischemic event in patients with new-onset T2D, prevalent T2D and no T2D was: 17.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 17.2; 18.6), 26.1% (95% CI: 25.6; 26.7), and 18.8% (95% CI:18.6; 19.0). Corresponding estimates for HFH were: 31.5% (95% CI: 30.6; 32.3), 33.6% (95% CI: 33.0; 34.2), and 30,7% (95% CI: 30.5; 31.0). The absolute five-year risk of event-free death among patients with new-onset T2D, prevalent T2D and no T2D was: 20.9% (95% CI: 20.2; 21.7), 18.9% (95% CI:18.4; 19.3), and 18.6% (95% CI: 18.4; 18.8) (see Figure). The five-year risk ratio of experiencing HFH or event-free death versus an ischemic event was: 2.9 (95% CI: 2.8; 3.1), 2.0 (95% CI:2.0; 2.1), and 2.6 (95% CI: 2.6; 2.7) for patients with new-onset T2D, prevalent T2D and no T2D, respectively. Similar results of absolute and relative risk were present across all subgroups. Conclusion In our population of HF patients, 8% developed new-onset diabetes. Development of T2D in patients with HF increases the risk of HFH and mortality three-fold. The increased risk of new-onset T2D is higher than the importance of prevalent T2D in patients with HF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


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