The internal picture of the disease in type 1 diabetes

Abstract

То study the internal picture of the disease, 73 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) were examined. Among them, there were 43 females and 31 males whose age was 14 to 60 years and whose disease duration was 6 months to 39years. Psychological diagnostic tests evaluating their attitude to the disease revealed that in the patients, hypo- and hypernosognosias were prevalent in the pattern of nosognosias, hyponosognosias being observed somewhat more frequently, and adequate reactions to the disease were observed rel­atively rarely (15%). Among hyponosognosias, there was most commonly an ergopathic or anosognosic type of an attitude to the disease, which leads to the underestimation of their disease and to poor metabolic control. Hypemosognosia was more characteristic for females, which in the presence of severe complications and with a long-term history of the diseases is a consequence of DM complications and premorbid personality traits. A sensitive type as a result of social disadaptation and discrimination of society towards DM patients holds a central position in the pattern of hypernosognosias.

Obligatory psychological and psychotherapeutic correction of the internal picture of disease in DM is required to achieve good pa­rameters of metabolic control and qualitative management of DM, which will promote the patients’ better life quality.