Research News

 Supervised by Dr. Roquia Begum 

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of diabetic patients is increasing all over the world day by day. Bangladesh is not out of it. It is considered to be one of the most psychologically demanding chronic medical illnesses. In Bangladesh the treatment of diabetic patients is very straightforward depending only on physical treatment and its psychological side is always ignored. The main purpose o f the present study was to explore the psychological problems faced by the diabetic patients and to see whether psychological interventions are effective to reduce these problems. The study objective addresses four issues. First, to assess the psychological problems faced by the diabetic patients. Second, to find out whether psychological interventions can be effective in managing psychological problems of diabetic patients. Third, to find out whether psychological management can induce any positive change in the lifestyle of diabetic patients. Fourth, to find out whether psychological interventions can reduce glucose level of diabetic patients. To fulfill these objectives, 10 diabetic patients were taken as a sample for the present research. They were collected from Ibrahim General Hospital by using purposive sampling techniques. Among the participants 6 were female and 4 were male and their age ranged from 42 to 68 years. They were from different socio- economic status ranging from upper class to lower middle class. For collecting data the researcher used in-depth interview along with some psychometric Scale like- Anxiety Scale, Depression Scale, General Health Questiormaire, Measuring Instrument for Lifestyle of Diabetics (MILD). Besides, blood glucose level and self-rating (0-100 points) measures were also taken. The Scales were also used for monitoring the change due to psychological interventions. From the present research findings it was found that diabetic patients were suffering from different sorts of psychological problems like low mood, losing interest in their activities, difficulties in sleeping, problem in eating, feeling very tired and having no energy, feeling irritability and restlessness, social withdrawal, conflict with family members, feeling pain in chest, neck and shoulder, headache, negative self esteem, pessimistic outlook, dependency etc. Their problem ranged from moderate to severe level. When the outcome of the psychological interventions were measured, it was found that it could bring a positive change among the patients. Psychological interventions not only improved their mental health status but also increased their quality of life and reduced their blood glucose level. So, in conclusion we can say that if psychological interventions were given earlier, it could help the patients in managing the psychological problems and their complications of diabetes, ft is recommended that there is a need to incorporate the psychological services with the existing treatment systems o f diabetes.