Carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes mellitus: dietitians’ perceptions, training and barriers to use

Abstract

Objectives: A study was undertaken to determine the perceptions, training and barriers regarding the use of carbohydrate counting in the dietary  management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) among dietitians in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted.

Setting: Dietitians who were registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and working in the province of KZN at the time of the study, were invited to participate.

Methods: Data were collected using a self-administered electronic questionnaire distributed through SurveyMonkey, an Internet-based survey  programme.

Results: Dietitians agreed that carbohydrate counting was a useful dietary management approach for diabetes (p < 0.05) and that it was essential to  manage T1DM (p < 0.05). However, they felt it was a difficult concept for patients with T1DM to understand (p = 0.001) and teaching it to patients was time  consuming (p < 0.05). Although dietitians believed that there was a strong evidence base for teaching carbohydrate counting to patients with T1DM  (p < 0.05), they indicated a need for further training or education in it (p < 0.05). Barriers to using carbohydrate counting included a lack of training,  confidence and experience, financial resources, time, blood glucose records and poor patient motivation and patient illiteracy (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Overall, dietitians who participated in the study had a positive perception towards the use of carbohydrate counting in the management of  T1DM. However, further training needs to be addressed for carbohydrate counting to be used with confidence by dietitians in KZN to optimize their  management of T1DM.