The Expert Patient: A New Approach to Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management based on Illness Perception and Embodied Cognition

In new patient-training methods, the issue of patient empowerment has been presented which emphasizes the active role of patient in education and treatment. This study examined the impact of empowerment –based diabetes education (knowledge diabetes and embodied cognition) in promoting self-management behaviors in type 2 diabetic patients.

This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 21 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients referred to the Iran Diabetes Association from October to February 1395. They were assigned randomly into three groups in 2 intervention and control groups. The questionnaires were the demographic and clinical information, IPQ-R, DMSES, K-10, DSCS, DQOL, and BDI-II. Also, hemoglobin A1C and blood sugar were assessed. Empowerment program were conducted according to regulatory protocols in six sessions in each group. Hemoglobin A1C was measured before and three months after the intervention.

The results indicated that there was a significant difference in relation to blood sugar, illness perception (consequence, Personal and Treatment control, Illness coherence, Emotional representations), self-care and quality of life between the experimental group before and after the first intervention (P<0.001, P<0.05). However, it was not significant in control group (p>0.05). Scores before and after the second intervention in testosterone levels, self-efficacy, feeling of power, self-care behaviors, K-10, blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c were significant difference (P<0.001, P<0.05). However it was not significant in control group (p>0.05).

The results showed that implementation of the empowerment program increased patients’ efficiency to self-management, change cognition and perception. The results that draw attention to the psychological factors effective in the prevention of diabetes complications and hence help in the conceptualization, planning and design of treatment policies for more effective control of type 2 diabetes.