Conscientização da população sobre o Diabetes Mellitus e seu acompanhamento, na Unidade de Saúde da Família Curado 2-1, em Jaboatão dos Guararapes - Pernambuco

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition marked by persistent hyperglycemia, stemming from insufficient insulin production or resistance to the hormone's action. The rise in the number of cases in Brazil and worldwide is attributed to various factors, such as obesity, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and socioeconomic issues, leading to disabilities and burdening society. To change this scenario, the active participation of individuals throughout the health-disease process of diabetes is crucial, as lifestyle changes are essential for the prevention and control of the condition. For this to occur, quality health education is imperative, providing sufficient knowledge and skills for the patient to manage their health conditions or even prevent them. The Family Health Strategy (FHS) proves to be the most suitable setting for altering the natural course of diabetes. At the USF Curado 2 - Team 1, located in the urban area of Jaboatão dos Guararapes – PE, it was noted that users' understanding of DM and the role of the FHS in this context is below the desired level, with insufficient information on the topic. Furthermore, other observed problems were user absenteeism and loss to follow-up, which are significant obstacles to the prevention and control of diabetes at the health unit, in addition to a considerable number of referrals to specialized care. The objective of this Intervention Project is to raise awareness among the population enrolled at this USF about the importance of DM and its regular monitoring by the Family Health Team. This will be pursued through health education actions and the active search for individuals with poor attendance and/or at risk for diabetes. Quality and easily accessible information on the topic will be disseminated to the community, and the team will be trained for the effective recognition of at-risk patients for diabetes using the FINDRISC tool. The expected outcomes from the implementation of this intervention are greater user autonomy for self-management of their health and lifestyle changes, as well as enabling the health team to identify individuals at risk for diabetes. It is intended, therefore, to reduce referrals to specialized care and increase the community's presence at the USF, improving the care provided and decreasing the morbidity and mortality of diabetes mellitus in the population.