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This diploma thesis focuses on the disease diabetes mellitus. The theoretical part describes the characteristics of this disease. It describes typical symptoms, classification and diagnostics. It also outlines and explains the complications that may occur as a result of the disease and that may be avoided or whose inception and development may at least be delayed. Depending on their type and extent, these complications may significantly reduce quality of life as well as overall life expectancy. It is therefore essential to ensure that patients are properly educated in the right therapy. Education itself is covered in the section of the chapter devoted to treating diabetes mellitus. The practical part of the diploma thesis is devoted to research, focusing on the ability to retain information following verbal nutritional education of patients with diabetes. The aim of the research is to determine the percentage of information that patients gain from education on diet therapy, thus confirming or rebutting the established hypotheses. The research thus serves to determine the effectiveness of education in the care of diabetics. Keywords: diabetes, education, information retention, diet therapy

The relationship between dietary intake and the pathology of CFS has been an area of intense speculation without strong research support. There may be important links between diet and symptoms such that dietary interventions may be efficacious as adjunct therapy. This study was designed to assess any dietary abnormalities among Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. The purpose of this study is to make a controlled assessment of usual dietary intake so that dietary recommendations for CFS patients can be made. A Diet History Questionnaire, provided by the National Institute of Health, was used to analyze usual dietary intake among CFS patients. Women, ages I 8 and older, diagnosed by a physician with CFS, and were asked to complete the online survey. To complete the questionnaire, participants were provided with a user name and password and asked to answer a number of questions about their dietary habit. Twenty (n=20) women with CFS completed the questionnaire. The results were compiled and analyzed using Diet-Calc software and compared with nonnative data. Several nutrients were found to be deficient in more than 75% of the CFS patients.

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A Food Checklist, based on the Food Guide pyramid, was developed and validated as a quick method to determine the adequacy of dietary energy and protein intakes in cancer patients. Food intake data were monitored for 34 hospitalized oncology patients for two days. Caloric and protein intake estimates computed using the Food Checklist were correlated 0.99 (p <0.0001) with computer estimates of Nutritionist III validating the Food Checklist as an accurate, time-saving method for quickly assessing the adequacy of a cancer patient's diet. By highlighting the times during the day food intake was adequate and the food groups best tolerated by each patient, the Food Checklist could be a valuable tool for maximizing the effect of nutritional strategies. / Master of Science

M.S.

Multiple factors such as ethnicity, increasing age, low socioeconomic status, and being under-educated contribute to increased morbidity and mortality associated with the silent killer known as hypertension. Studies show that despite the tremendous progress in awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, improvements in control of this deadly disease have slowed. New data now indicate an increase in the rate of stroke, end-stage renal disease and heart failure, specifically among the lower socioeconomic, undereducated hypertensive populations. There is a large population of African American lower socioeconomic and undereducated individuals with a high rate of hypertension in the South Apopka community of Central Florida. This study builds on existing data for this population which identified these citizens as having the greatest difficulty following a low fat and low calorie diet. Repeated measures design was used to evaluate the impact of Dietary Approached to Stop Hypertension (DASH), a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, protein, and low-fat dairy products, education on dietary compliance and blood pressure in this population. The Apopka hypertension study predominantly consisted of African American female participants. More that 77% of the participants were greater than 55 years of age. The implementation of the DASH diet significantly lowered systolic blood pressure by 12.62 mm Hg (p=.011). The diastolic pressure decreased by 6.13 mm Hg; however this was not significant. (p~.05). Participants rated their compliance level on a 5 point Likert type scale with the average rating at 3.48 (somewhat compliant). Results from this study indicated that the implementation of the DASH diet was an effective method for achieving dietary control over hypertension for this sample.