Health Education Program and Waist Circumference among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that causes morbidity and mortality in the world. Association of diabetes mellitus with obesity are well known, but the role of distribution in the abdominal area has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of giving education to change waist circumference in type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study is an experimental with one group pretest-posttest design in Surabaya, from June July 2013, and involving 31 subjects whom were given health education program for 1 month which are divided in 4 meetings in Surabaya University. Data from the pretest and posttest were collected and analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test method on the data that isn't normal (p > 0.05). The results showed an increase in knowledge and behavior of patients and reduced significantly the size of the waist circumference (p < 0.05). Waist circumference began to show a significant difference in the third week of education (Z = 12.93, P = 0.003) compared to the pretest. The decrease in waist circumferences between the pretest and posttest were 0.94 cm (week 4) and 1.68 (4 months later). Therefore, health education has benefits in increasing self-monitoring of diabetes mellitus that can reduce waist circumference are useful for reducing the risk of complications.