ABSTRACT Introduction: Adherence to non-pharmacological treatment of diabetes mellitus is a key factor in avoiding or delaying the complications of this disease. Treatment compliance depends on multiple factors. Objective: To evaluate adherence to dietary hygienic treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus, especially nutrition and physical activity. Demographic variables and the presence of arterial hypertension were also measured. Methodology: An interview was conducted with adult male and female patients, carriers of diabetes mellitus, residing in the Sajonia neighborhood of Asunción, Paraguay, between May and October 2022. Demographic and clinical variables were measured. Adherence was determined with the Caro Bautista questionnaire, which consists of seven questions that evaluate the therapeutic practices of patients in the last week. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Results: Two hundred fifty-seven people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were interviewed, with a predominance of females (61.4%), 73.9% reported having their own income and 49% also suffered from arterial hypertension. The questionnaire detected that 20.1% followed a healthy diet all week, 15.5% performed daily physical exercises, and 14.3% performed capillary blood monitoring regularly. Conclusion: Between 10 and 22% of patients with diabetes mellitus perform adequate diet and exercise, as well as glycemia monitoring according to the recommendations of their physicians.

RESUMEN Introducción: la adherencia al tratamiento no farmacológico de la diabetes mellitus es un factor clave para evitar o retrasar las complicaciones de esta enfermedad. El cumplimento terapéutico depende de múltiples factores. Objetivo: evaluar la adherencia al tratamiento higiénico dietético en pacientes con diabetes mellitus, sobre todo la nutricional y la actividad física. Se midieron además las variables demográficas y presencia de hipertensión arterial. Metodología: se realizó una entrevista a pacientes adultos de ambos sexos, portadores de diabetes mellitus, que residen en el barrio Sajonia de Asunción, Paraguay, entre mayo y octubre del 2022. Se midieron variables demográficas y clínicas. La adherencia se determinó con el cuestionario de Caro Bautista que consta de 7 preguntas que evalúan las prácticas terapéuticas de los pacientes en la última semana. El estudio contó con la aprobación del Comité de ética de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay. Resultados: fueron entrevistados 257 personas con el diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus, con predominio del sexo femenino (61,4%), 73,9% refería tener ingresos propios y 49% padecía también de hipertensión arterial. El cuestionario detectó que 20,1% seguía una dieta saludable toda la semana, 15,5% realizaba ejercicios físicos diariamente y 14,3% realizaba los monitoreos de sangre capilar regularmente. Conclusión: entre 10 y 22% de los pacientes con diabetes mellitus realiza dieta y ejercicios adecuados, así como monitoreo de la glucemia según las recomendaciones de sus médicos.

DNA obtido do sangue periférico de dois pacientes equatorianos, que apresentavam severa patologia digestiva, foi amplificado pela "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) utilizando os oligonucleotídoes específicos do Trypanosoma cruzi, derivados de uma seqüência primária de cDNA codificado de 24 kDa proteína excretória/secretória. Os resultados positivos da PCR junto com os achados clínicos confirmam que os dois pacientes tinham uma patologia digestiva de origem chagásica. Esta patologia poderia ser mais freqüente que a descrita previamente nas regiões endêmicas chagásicas das cidades dos Andes.

DNA extracted from peripheral blood of two Ecuadorian patients showing severe digestive pathology was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using a Trypanosoma cruzi specific oligonucleotide primers derived from the primary sequence of a cDNA encoding for a 24 kDa excretory/secretory protein. The positive PCR results together with the clinical findings confirmed that both patients had a digestive pathology due to Chagas' disease. This pathology could be more frequent than previously described in the chagasic endemic regions of Andean countries.