GERAKAN LANSIA SEHAT: EDUKASI DAN MONITORING GULA DARAH UNTUK PENCEGAHAN DIABETES

Abstract

The number of elderly people in Indonesia in 2023 will reach approximately 22.6 million (±11.7%), indicating that Indonesia is heading towards an aging population structure, which will impact the health sector, among other things. This increase in the elderly population is accompanied by an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia, which are major challenges in the public health sector. Given the increasing prevalence of elderly people with diabetes mellitus in Indonesia, efforts that can be made to prevent and control diabetes mellitus include dietary management, physical activity, and pharmacological therapy. Health education is one of the main strategies in increasing public knowledge and awareness of the importance of blood sugar control. In addition, early detection through blood sugar screening is crucial to prevent further complications. The activity was implemented through a pre-test, counseling, post-test, and blood sugar examination. The number of respondents in this activity was 15 elderly people. The activity went smoothly, all respondents enthusiastically participated in the activity. The majority of respondents were female elderly aged 60-69 years. The results of the blood sugar examinations showed that the majority of elderly people had diabetes mellitus. Prior to the counseling session, most respondents had poor knowledge about diabetes mellitus. After the counseling session, most respondents' knowledge improved to good. Conclusion: This community service activity demonstrates that health counseling is effective in improving the elderly's understanding of diabetes mellitus.