Adherence to foot self-care in diabetes mellitus patients.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Family Health Strategy in Teresina-PI. METHOD Search cross selected by simple random sampling, 331 people with diabetes mellitus. Data collection took place from August to December 2012 with the use of Self-Care Activities Questionnaire with Diabetes and structured instrument for recording information socioeconomic and guidance received by the professional nurse. RESULTS The data revealed that patients have poor adherence to blood glucose monitoring, the physical exercise and foot care, but with good adherence to the medication. Only 38.7% of the sample examined the feet of fi ve to seven days a week. Statistically significant association between self-care activities with their feet and orientations of nurses (p < 0,05). CONCLUSION That there is need to raise awareness with regard to the development of skills for self-care.