Healthy Lifestyle Education Intervention on Blood Sugar Levels of Diabetes Mellitus Patients at Tompaso Community Health Center North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) requires disciplined self-management through diet and physical activity. Failure to adhere to these pillars can lead to unstable blood glucose levels. Lifestyle-based education is one of the most effective ways to reduce the burden of diabetes in the elderly. Key lifestyle factors such as diet, interpersonal relationships, spiritual growth, and stress management play an important role in improving health and managing diabetes. Poor eating habits, including low fruit and vegetable intake and high sugar consumption, are common in elderly with diabetes. Objective: To analyze the effect of healthy lifestyle education on nutritional intake, physical activity, and blood sugar levels in DM patients at the Tompaso Community Health Center. Method: Pre-experimental research with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of DM patients who were given dietary and physical activity education interventions. Intake data were measured by food recall, physical activity with a questionnaire (MET), and blood sugar levels were measured before and after the intervention. Data analysis used statistical tests (Paired T-Test).
The study results showed significant changes in nutritional intake: energy decreased (1270.6 kcal to 1236.5 kcal), carbohydrates decreased drastically (2131 grams to 1828 grams), while protein and fat experienced adjustments. Physical activity increased significantly from an average of 452.88 METs to 725.15 METs. Average blood sugar levels decreased from 130.06 mg/dL to 125.212 mg/dL with a p-value of 0.000 ().p<0,05
Conclusion: Healthy lifestyle education effectively improved diet, increased physical activity, and lowered blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes mellitus at the Tompaso Community Health Center. Future research should explore the long-term impact and integration of similar education programs into broader public health strategies.