LEMOS, D. E. A.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3041723895871040; LEMOS, Deborah Emanuelle de Albuquerque.
Abstract:
Adequate and balanced diet in calories and nutrients stands out as one of the fundamental
principles for achieving good metabolic control of patients with diabetes, being essential for
the prevention of complications arising from the disease. In order to this end, diet's and light's
foods were developed for specific purposes, which are characterized, respectively, by the
removal or reduction of some nutrient in its formulation, in order to improve the quality and
provide possibilities for consumption of some foods suitable for individuals who have some
restriction. In addition, food labels contain nutritional information that can influence food
choices. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the level of information among adult individuals
with diabetes about their pathological condition, use of dietary products and nutritional
knowledge about data contained in food labels. Socioeconomic, pathophysiological, dietary,
professional guidance, means of information and use of dietary foods were evaluated. The
analyzed information was expressed as mean, standard deviation and absolute frequency and
percentage, in addition to the Chi-Square test. Seventy-one adults who were diagnosed with
diabetes mellitus were evaluated, and after data analysis, the majority (53.52%), have a habit
of reading food labels, as well as a large part of the interviewees (69.01%) make use of
sweetener and consumption of diet and light foods (54.93%). In addition, most interviewees
value the use of diet foods in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (50.70%). Therefore, it is
important to highlight the need for multidisciplinary actions through health professionals in
order to address existing doubts about food labels, especially food, as well as offering
nutritional knowledge so that they can conquer the autonomy of food choice in a conscious
way, aiming at the total understanding of food labels, which belong to dietary products or not.
