[Body weight, cardiovascular risk factors, and self-efficacy of diabetic control among obese type II diabetic patients].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of problem solving nursing counseling and walking exercise on weight loss, cardiovascular risk factors, and self-efficacy of diabetic control among obese diabetic patients. The Polar heart rate monitor was used for walking exercise to utilize the Biofeedback mechanism. METHOD: Fifty nine diabetic patients were conveniently placed into experimental (n=35) and control groups (n=24). The experimental group participated in weekly nursing counseling for 12 weeks and was encouraged to do walking exercise using a Polar monitor. The control group remained in the same treatment as before. The data was collected from November 2003 to August 2004 and analyzed using t-tests and ANCOVAs. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the participants in the experimental group reported significantly decreased body weight (p=.004) and total scores on the Parma scale (p=.001). While the participants in the control group reported significantly increased levels of blood triglyceride (p=.046) and HDL (p=.018). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we concluded that problem focused nursing counseling with intensified walking exercise could reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications and body weight among obese diabetic patients. Future research to explore the long-term effects of nursing counseling on diabetic complications is warranted.