Observance of hygiene and dietary rules and the associated factors among diabetic subjects in Essaouira Province, Morocco: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: hygiene and dietary recommendations are a fundamental pillar of diabetes management. The objective of this study is to measure the rate of observance of hygiene and dietary rules and the factors associated with these among a group of Moroccan diabetic subjects. METHODS: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 522 subjects with types 1 and 2 diabetes followed at different health centres in the province of Essaouira (Morocco). RESULTS: non-observance of hygiene and dietary rules rate was assessed at 41,4%, (66.5% for diet, 32.4% for lifestyle and 30.8% for physical activity). Rural area (p<0.001), poor glycaemic control (p<0.001), ignorance of hygiene and dietary rules (p<0.001) and long duration of diabetes (p<0.01) are associated with non-observance of diet. Good family support (p<0.01) is associated with good observance of lifestyle recommendations, short duration of diabetes progression (p<0.01) is associated with good observance of physical activity recommendations. CONCLUSION: non-observance of hygiene and dietary rules is always a problem in the management of chronic diseases. Ignorance of hygiene and dietary measures, lassitude and difficulty in adapting to a new lifestyle are the main obstacles that diabetics must overcome in order to better manage their disease.