Profile of the users of Health Basic Units in Vale do Taquari: risk factors for diabetes and the use of phytotherapics

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In this paper, it was identified the glicemic profile of the users served of Health Basic Units (HBU) in Vale do Taquari (RS, Brazil), and evaluated the medical knowledge and prescription of phytotherapics in this HBU. METHOD: This is a transversal study of populacional base with 476 individuals, aged over 18, that lived in 36 cities of this region, and 39 physicians. A standardized questionnaire was applied and the measure of the glycemic index of users was made. RESULTS: We observed, of the total analyzed, that the volunteers were between 18 to 86 years with a mean aged of 48,08 (± 17,05) years, 69,54% were female, and 49,69% had relatives with diabetes, being 74,15% in the first degree. The mean fasting glucose in women was 107,7 mg / dL (± 37,92) and men of 115,11 (± 42,94) and the prescription of herbal medicines was 4.2%. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, in spite of various risk factors for the development of diabetes, there is little prescription of phytotherapeutic products as adjuvants for its treatment, and they are hardly used by those having the disease.