Illiteracy and diabetes: educational program for people with type 2 diabetes in the public health system

Materials and methods Educational material was prepared with pictures of food and portion sizes, corresponding to eating plan and based on calories and food groups and list of drugs identified by different colors. Health literacy was measured with the brief-form Test of Functional Health Literacy (B-TOFHLA) in 53 patients with type 2 DM in a single Public Health Center in Belo Horizonte-MG. Educational program was conducted in four weekly meetings, in groups with 10 people, directed to use of drugs and nutrition, advising how to identify drugs by different colors, guiding meals with an individualized eating plan and a list of food adapted to this reality. The meetings were based on educational material. Clinical evaluation and biochemical tests were analyzed before and three months after the last meeting.