Self-Care Behaviors’ Glycemic Control and its Related Factors in Type II Diabetes Women Patients

Diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder and can have devastating complications. The objective of this study was to determine self-care behaviors for glycemic control and its related factors in type II diabetes women patients.

This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2016 on a randomly selected sample of 120 women volunteers, aged over 30 years, referred to hospital in Javanrud, Kermanshah. Participant’s responses to a KAP questionnaire including the KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice) constructs and socio-demographics determinants during interviews. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 using correlations, t student and linear regression. A level of 0.05 was considered signicant for all tests.

Age range of participants was 32 to 69 years (mean 48.8±8.02 years). There was a significant and inverse correlation between increased age of participants and knowledge (r=-0.289 & P=0.002). Increasing the level of education significantly increased the participants' knowledge (P=0.011) and behavior (P=0.004). Knowledge and attitude constructs explained 11% of the self-care behaviors for diabetes control by paying attention to diet and physical activity, respectively.

Results underscore the need to emphasize raising knowledge of diabetic patients on changes in diet and physical activity behaviors, for facilitating glycemic control.