Abstract Objective: To verify the students’ perception about diabetes in public schools. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with students’ interview to access their diabetes knowledge (signs and symptoms, food, and diabetes self-care at school). Content analysis was used for the open question, expressed by number of occurrences, and frequencies, means and standard deviations for the other results. Results: 302 students, with 9,1±1,5 years and 54% female. For “what is diabetes” there were 91 occurrences associated with negative consequences. For 95.4% of interviewees, people with diabetes cannot eat sweets, and for 32.8% diabetes is transmitted from person to person. Only 34.8% stated that the classmate with diabetes can participate in physical/recreational activities; and 32.1% replied that he/she could not have a snack with the others. Only 29.2% of the interviewees recognized that the classmate with diabetes would need to have something with sugar to eat/drink in case he/she feel bad. Conclusions: These results reinforce the need for action of diabetes education to improve students' knowledge and perception about diabetes in the school, as well as better management for students with this condition at that environment.

Resumo Objetivo: Verificar a percepção sobre o diabetes dos alunos de escolas públicas. Métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal, com entrevista aos alunos sobre diabetes (sinais e sintomas, alimentação e questões sobre o autocuidado no ambiente escolar), com análise de conteúdo para a questão aberta, expressa em número de ocorrências, e demais resultados em frequência, média e desvio padrão. Resultados: 302 estudantes, com 9,1±1,5 anos e 54% do sexo feminino. Termos associados a consequências negativas tiveram 91 ocorrências para “o que é diabetes”. Para 95,4% dos entrevistados a pessoa com diabetes não pode comer doces, e para 32,8% o diabetes é transmitido de uma pessoa para outra. Apenas 34,8% afirmaram que o colega com diabetes pode participar de atividades físicas/recreativas, e 32,1% responderam que ele não poderia lanchar junto com os demais. Somente 29,2% dos entrevistados reconheceram que o colega com diabetes precisaria ter consigo algo com açúcar para momentos em que se sinta mal. Conclusões: Estes achados reforçam a necessidade de melhorar o conhecimento e a percepção dos estudantes sobre o diabetes no ambiente escolar, propiciando condições mais harmoniosas e seguras de manejo do diabetes nestes espaços.

Abstract Objective: To verify the students’ perception about diabetes in public schools. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with students’ interview to access their diabetes knowledge (signs and symptoms, food, and diabetes self-care at school). Content analysis was used for the open question, expressed by number of occurrences, and frequencies, means and standard deviations for the other results. Results: 302 students, with 9,1±1,5 years and 54% female. For “what is diabetes” there were 91 occurrences associated with negative consequences. For 95.4% of interviewees, people with diabetes cannot eat sweets, and for 32.8% diabetes is transmitted from person to person. Only 34.8% stated that the classmate with diabetes can participate in physical/recreational activities; and 32.1% replied that he/she could not have a snack with the others. Only 29.2% of the interviewees recognized that the classmate with diabetes would need to have something with sugar to eat/drink in case he/she feel bad. Conclusions: These results reinforce the need for action of diabetes education to improve students' knowledge and perception about diabetes in the school, as well as better management for students with this condition at that environment.

Resumo Objetivo: Verificar a percepção sobre o diabetes dos alunos de escolas públicas. Métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal, com entrevista aos alunos sobre diabetes (sinais e sintomas, alimentação e questões sobre o autocuidado no ambiente escolar), com análise de conteúdo para a questão aberta, expressa em número de ocorrências, e demais resultados em frequência, média e desvio padrão. Resultados: 302 estudantes, com 9,1±1,5 anos e 54% do sexo feminino. Termos associados a consequências negativas tiveram 91 ocorrências para “o que é diabetes”. Para 95,4% dos entrevistados a pessoa com diabetes não pode comer doces, e para 32,8% o diabetes é transmitido de uma pessoa para outra. Apenas 34,8% afirmaram que o colega com diabetes pode participar de atividades físicas/recreativas, e 32,1% responderam que ele não poderia lanchar junto com os demais. Somente 29,2% dos entrevistados reconheceram que o colega com diabetes precisaria ter consigo algo com açúcar para momentos em que se sinta mal. Conclusões: Estes achados reforçam a necessidade de melhorar o conhecimento e a percepção dos estudantes sobre o diabetes no ambiente escolar, propiciando condições mais harmoniosas e seguras de manejo do diabetes nestes espaços.

ABSTRACT Objectives Yacon flour is rich in bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds and fructooligosaccharides (FOS)), and may therefore reduce the risk of diseases associated with excess body weight. However, its effect on fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFA), intestinal permeability, oxidative stress and inflammation markers has not been studied in adult humans with excess body weight. Thus, we evaluated the effect of the consumption of yacon flour on these variables. Materials and methods Twenty-six excess body weight (30.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2) adults (31.3 ± 8.5y) were randomized to one of two groups (yacon flour or control; n = 13) on a double blind clinical trial. Subjects received a breakfast drink containing or not yacon flour (25g) associated with an energy restricted diet, for six weeks. The flour chemical characterization, FOS and total phenolics contents were evaluated. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo (plasma). Intestinal permeability, fecal SCFA, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers also were evaluated in vivo. Results Yacon flour was well tolerated. It presented an in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacity, increased plasma total antioxidant capacity (ΔYAC: 49.16 (-4.20; 156.63)) and reduced protein carbonyl concentrations (ΔYAC: -0.98 (-1.54; -0.42)). A reduction in SCFAs was observed in both groups (Δacetic: -3.16 (-5.07; -0.95) vs. -1.05 (-2.65; 1.11); Δpropionic: -1.05 (-2.60;-0.38) vs. -0.41 (-2.08; 0.09); Δbutyric: -0.75 (-1.38; -0.04) vs. -0.28 (-0.98; 0.11), for YAC and CON, respectively). Other variables did not change. Conclusion The yacon flour increased the plasma antioxidant capacity, decreased oxidative stress and SCFAs in adults with obesity or overweight.