Development of Nutrition Educational Tool on Carbohydrate Counting Concept for Adult Sri Lankans with Diabetes

Abstract

The overall prevalence of diabetes in Sri Lanka is as high as 14.2 % for men and 13.5 % for women. Self-management education on food choices and meal planning for people with diabetes is important in the management of diabetes. The carbohydrate counting concept which is a simple and easily understandable method for food choices and meal planning has not been used as a nutrition educational tool in Sri Lanka. The aim of this study was to develop a nutrition educational tool using carbohydrate counting concept for adults with diabetes in Sri Lanka. Different types of educational tools were reviewed and a booklet was selected as the nutritional educational tool. The content validity and format of the draft booklet were proved in order to getting the right message and easily to read by the experts. The developed nutrition educational tool is colourful booklet with 13 cm in width and 20 cm in length. The booklet is composed of 2 sections. The first section provides the general information on diabetes, and dietary management strategies of diabetes such as plate model and food exchange list. The second section describes on types of carbohydrate, carbohydrate containing food groups, carbohydrate content in one portion exchange for each food groups and the steps of carbohydrate counting. The developed educational too is a self-help guide for estimating carbohydrate amount in commonly used Sri Lankan foods. The booklet also provides a preliminary guide illustrating the printed nutrition information material on carbohydrate counting for people with diabetes in Sri Lanka.