RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-CARE BEHAVIOUR AND GLYCAEMIC CONTROL AMONG PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES ATTENDINGATERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Background: The most important aspect of optimal management of patients suffering from diabetes is achieving good glycemic control. Self-management of the disease is an important factor affecting this treatment outcome.

Aim: To determine the relationship between self-care behavior and glycaemic control, with the aim of identifying associated diabetic self-care activities with glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic patients attending the Diabetic Out-Patient Clinic of FMC, Asaba.

Setting: The study was carried out in the Endocrinology (Diabetic) Out-Patient Clinic of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.

Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 398 type 2 diabetic patients attending the Diabetic Out-Patient Clinic of FMC, Asaba. A questionnaire was administered to assess socio-demographic information and health-related data. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activity (SDSCA) questionnaire was used to assess diabetes self-care practices. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was used as an indicator of glycaemic control. All results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 23.

Results: The median score for overall diabetes self-care was 35 (IQR = 13), representing a moderate level of diabetes self-care activities, with high scores in diet (median score of 20; IQR = 5) and medication (median score of 7; IQR = 4). Diabetes self-care score correlated negatively with HbA1c (r = −0.24, p = 0.00). The predictor of good glycaemic control was SMBG (self-monitoring of blood glucose).

Conclusion: The overall self-care activity among the respondents in this study was moderate. Only the diet and medication domains of diabetic self-care activity were high. Among the diabetes self-care activities, SMBG was the only predictor of good glycaemic control in this study.

Recommendation: Health care providers managing diabetes in developing countries should counsel their patients on diabetic self-care activities of exercise, self-monitoring of blood sugar, and foot care, while not neglecting diet and medication adherence.