>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Background: Patients who suffer from diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the leg experience a greater risk of developing gait deviations due to a decrease in strength of the lower extremities, especially the tibialis anterior and triceps surea muscle groups. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of an exercise training programme on blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, muscle strength, range of motion, balance and gait pattern deviations in patients with diabetic neuropathies. Methods: A total of fourteen participants, who had been diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or nocturnal allodynia in either one or both extremities, were asked to participate in this study. Participants were purposively selected from two private Podiatry practices based on their signs and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, age, gender and doctor’s clearance to participate in any form of physical activity. Dependent variables included isometric strength of the muscles surrounding the hip, knee and ankle, the range of motion of the ankle in plantarflexion and dorsiflexion using goniometry, an assessment of balance using the stork stand test, and a gait pattern analysis, using the modified Tinetti Gait pattern Assessment Scale. Study design: The study was a single-blinded, pre-test and post-test experimental study design using a quantitative approach. Intervention: The researcher (a registered biokineticist) developed a scientifically-based exercise intervention programme to specifically target the entire kinetic chain, and to reduce fall risks, improve quality of life and to assist in developing a standard protocol for patients with DPN. The intervention programme consisted of a combination of ankle, hip and knee rehabilitation, including gait pattern specific rehabilitation. The intervention took place 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes per session and was divided in four categories: Range of motion exercises, strengthening exercises, balance and proprioception and gait pattern training exercises. Results: The Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon Sign Rank Tests were used to evaluate the differences in dependent variables from pre- to post-intervention. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. An increase in range of motion only in the left ankle dorsiflexion were observed and an increase in balance time for the left leg were observed in the intervention group after a 10-week follow up assessment. Clinical significance was observed in the intervention group, post-intervention, with a decrease in systolic (-9.09%) and diastolic blood pressure (-13.89%) and a decrease in blood glucose levels (-17.89%), however, an increase in these variables was observed in the control group post-intervention. An increase in plantarflexion, 8% (left) and 8% (right) and dorsiflexion 5.26% (left) and an 11.11% (right) increase in range of motion for both left and right ankles, and balance time for both legs, 200% (left) and 159% (right) was observed in the intervention group post-intervention. Although the muscular strength variables showed a mix of an increase and decrease in strength post-intervention in the intervention group, however a clinically significant decreased amount was observed in the control group post-intervention for the majority of muscular strength variables. Conclusions: Although not many findings of this study are statistically significant, clinical significance were observed with most of the variables of this study. The findings of this study can assist future researchers in the development of exercise interventions for patients who suffers from DPN.

Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Type 1 Diabetes is a dangerous and life-long disease for which its prevalence is global. Research has shown that tight glycaemic control of this disease significantly reduces the risks of developing several life threatening diabetic complications. The Ets-Insulin-Bolus Calculator (EIBC), inspired by the Ets concept (Equivalent Teaspoon Sugar), was primarily designed to assist type I diabetics in improving their blood glucose control. The EIBC has shown to improve the average blood glucose level of type 1 diabetics. The need for this study however is to determine whether the ET!3C promotes tighter glycaemic control for type 1 diabetics based on a more-in-depth numerical analysis. With the use of the latest technology in blood glucose monitoring, the CGMS from Medtronic, mathematical models expressing and rating blood glucose control have been proposed and derived in this study. A clinical trial with type 1 diabetics has also been conducted. The use of the models together with the clinical trial results have shown that the EIBC does in fact promote tighter glycaemic control for type 1 diabetics. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Type 1 Diabetes is a dangerous and life-long disease for which its prevalence is global. Research has shown that tight glycaemic control of this disease significantly reduces the risks of developing several life threatening diabetic complications. The Ets-Insulin-Bolus Calculator (EIBC), inspired by the Ets concept (Equivalent Teaspoon Sugar), was primarily designed to assist type I diabetics in improving their blood glucose control. The EIBC has shown to improve the average blood glucose level of type 1 diabetics. The need for this study however is to determine whether the ET!3C promotes tighter glycaemic control for type 1 diabetics based on a more-in-depth numerical analysis. With the use of the latest technology in blood glucose monitoring, the CGMS from Medtronic, mathematical models expressing and rating blood glucose control have been proposed and derived in this study. A clinical trial with type 1 diabetics has also been conducted. The use of the models together with the clinical trial results have shown that the EIBC does in fact promote tighter glycaemic control for type 1 diabetics. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide. The degenerative changes caused by diabetes can, however, be controlled through the correct treatment. The outcome of diabetes mellitus depends mainly on the patient's self-management. Health professionals therefore have a major responsibility to assist patients to acquire the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes for self-management. The purpose of this study was to identify diabetic patients and family members' knowledge and views about diabetes mellitus and its treatment regimen. A quantitative descriptive survey design was used. Questionnaires were used to collect data from a convenient sample of diabetic patients and family members. Data was analysed by a computer program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings revealed that patients and family members lack adequate knowledge on diabetes mellitus and its treatment. Recommendations regarding the required information and assistance to be given to diabetic patients and their family members were formulated. / Health Studies / (MA (Health Studies))

O diabetes mellitus é um grupo heterogêneo de distúrbios metabólicos caracterizado pela hiperglicemia. Indivíduos diabéticos possuem maior susceptibilidade a infecções comparado a indivíduos sadios e a hiperglicemia é um dos principais fatores que contribuem para isso, em parte, por alterar a resposta imune. Sendo assim, os macrófagos, como células essenciais para a resposta inflamatória, podem apresentar importante papel na resposta imune alterada de indivíduos diabéticos. Neste estudo, investigamos como a hiperglicemia modula os macrófagos derivados da medula óssea (BMDMs) sob um estímulo inflamatório. Para realizar este estudo, os BMDMs de camundongos C57BL/6 machos não diabéticos e diabéticos (60 mg/kg de aloxana, iv) (CEUA / FCF / USP-488) foram cultivados sob condições normais de glicose (5,5 mM) e alta concentração de glicose (25 mM ou 40 mM) e estimuladas ou não com lipopolissacarídeo (LPS, 100 ng/mL). Em comparação com os BMDMs dos camundongos não diabéticos, os BMDMs dos camundongos diabéticos estimulados com LPS apresentaram menor expressão de CD38 no tempo basal e após 24 horas, além de menor expressão de receptor do tipo Toll (TLR)-4 na superfície celular, menor capacidade fagocítica e redução na secreção de óxido nítrico, lactato, fator de necrose tumoral- e interleucina (IL)-10, porém apresentaram maior expressão de CD80, CD86 e MHC-II, maior consumo de oxigênio e maior fosforilação em quinase ativada por estresse/quinase Jun-amino-terminal (SAPK/JNK) subunidade p46 e em quinase regulada por sinal extracelular (ERK) subunidade p42, proteína quinase B (AKT) e proteína quinase C (PKC)-&#948; assim como maior secreção de IL-6. Quando os BMDMs dos camundongos não diabéticos foram cultivados sob condições de alta concentração de glicose in vitro e estimulados com LPS, a expressão de TLR4 e os níveis de óxido nítrico e peróxido de hidrogênio foram reduzidos. Por outro lado, os BMDMs diabéticos que também foram cultivados em alta concentração de glicose in vitro apresentaram níveis aumentados de lactato e fosforilação reduzida em AKT e PKC-&#948;, porém apresentaram fosforilação aumentada em p46 SAPK/JNK. A alta concentração de glicose parece modificar o comportamento dos macrófagos, afetando diferentes aspectos dos BMDMs diabéticos e não diabéticos sob estímulo de LPS, assim a hiperglicemia deixa um legado de glicose, induzindo uma memória glicêmica, alterando o estado basal dos macrófagos, modificando a via de sinalização do TLR4 contribuindo para a susceptibilidade de indivíduos diabéticos a infecções. / Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia. Diabetic individuals are more susceptible to infections compared to healthy subjects, and hyperglycemia is one of the major contributing factors, partly because they alter the immune response. Thus, macrophages, as essential cells for the inflammatory response, may play an important role in the altered immune response of diabetic individuals. In this study, we investigated how hyperglycemia modulates bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) under an inflammatory stimulus. To perform this study, BMDMs from non-diabetic male and diabetic C57BL/6 mice (60 mg / kg aloxane, iv) (CEUA / FCF / USP-488) were cultured under normal glucose conditions (5.5 mM) and high glucose concentration (25 mM or 40 mM) and stimulated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng / ml). Compared to non-diabetic mice BMDMs, the BMDMs of LPS-stimulated diabetic mice showed lower expression of CD38 at baseline and after 24 hours, as well as lower Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 on the cell surface, lower secretion of lactate, tumor necrosis factor-, and interleukin (IL)-10, but showed higher expression of CD80, CD86 and MHC-II, higher oxygen consumption and greater phosphorylation in stress-activated kinase/Jun-amino-terminal kinase (SAPK / JNK) p46 subunit and in extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) p42 subunit, protein kinase B (AKT) and protein kinase C (PKC)-&#948; as well as higher secretion of IL-6. When the BMDMs of nondiabetic mice were cultured under conditions of in vitro high glucose concentration and stimulated with LPS, the levels of TLR4 expression, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide were reduced. On the other hand, diabetic BMDMs that were also cultured in high glucose concentration of glucose in vitro showed increased levels of lactate and reduced phosphorylation in AKT and PKC-&#948;, but showed increased phosphorylation in p46 SAPK/JNK. A high glucose concentration seems to modify the behavior of macrophages, affecting different aspects of diabetic and non-diabetic BMDMs under the same LPS stimulus. Hyperglycemia leaves a glucose legacy, inducing a glycemic memory, altering the basal state of macrophages, modifying the TLR4 signaling pathway, and may play a key role in the high susceptibility of diabetic individuals to infections.

Background: Diabetes mellitus and vascular diseases have a significant impact on the eye. / Aim: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and racial/ethnic differences of major eye conditions, particularly retinal conditions, associated with diabetes and vascular diseases. / Scope: To date, the majority of studies have examined the association of retinal vascular calibre and diabetes in predominantly white Caucasian populations. Further elucidation of ethnic differences in effects of hyperglycaemia on early microvascular disease is relevant, particularly amongst Asians where diabetes is likely to see the largest increase in prevalence over the next decade. We therefore examined these findings from three Asian population-based studies, the Singapore Malay Eye Study (n=3280), Singapore Prospective Cohort Study and Singapore Cardiovascular Cohort Study 2 (n=3748). / Results: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the Singapore Malay Eye Study was 35%, and associated with longer duration of diabetes, poorer glycemic and blood pressure control. More importantly, 9.0% had vision-threatening retinopathy, and retinopathy was found in 6.0% of people without diabetes. Retinal vascular calibre changes were incriminated in diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Wider venular calibre was independently associated with early age-related macular degeneration. We also found a novel association between peripheral artery disease and glaucoma, stronger in persons with diabetes, independent of vascular risk factors, supporting the vascular theory of glaucoma. / Implications: Subtle changes in retina, including retinal vascular calibre may be early markers of widespread microvascular changes in diabetes, resulting from chronic hyperglycaemia and other pathogenic processes. These results will have broad implications for understanding the impact of both microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes in the Asia Pacific region and targeting relevant therapeutic interventions.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide. The degenerative changes caused by diabetes can, however, be controlled through the correct treatment. The outcome of diabetes mellitus depends mainly on the patient's self-management. Health professionals therefore have a major responsibility to assist patients to acquire the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes for self-management. The purpose of this study was to identify diabetic patients and family members' knowledge and views about diabetes mellitus and its treatment regimen. A quantitative descriptive survey design was used. Questionnaires were used to collect data from a convenient sample of diabetic patients and family members. Data was analysed by a computer program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings revealed that patients and family members lack adequate knowledge on diabetes mellitus and its treatment. Recommendations regarding the required information and assistance to be given to diabetic patients and their family members were formulated. / Health Studies / (MA (Health Studies))

The purpose of this study was to develop a set of guidelines to enable teachers to support children with diabetes. The aspects of support include the physical, emotional, social and cognitive aspects that have an effect on a child with diabetes. A literature study and an empirical investigation were undertaken to investigate which factors would enable teachers to become better sources of support in school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers to determine their knowledge about diabetes. Parents who have children with diabetes were also interviewed to determine what support they required from teachers. The results of the study culminated in a set of guidelines for teachers. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)