Ausili D, et al. – An observational cross–sectional study was conducted to present self–care of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients and to evaluate outcomes associated with self–care in T2DM patients. The data suggested that self–care affects both clinical outcomes and quality of life of T2DM patients. While exercise is more frequently correlated with positive outcomes, it is especially poor in T2DM population. Moreover, blood testing and foot care should be performed to prevent complications and not only when a health problem is already occurred. Interventions aimed to improve exercise are recommended. Further research is required to explore barriers to exercise.

Methods

• Researchers performed a multicentre cross–sectional study on a sample of 302 randomly selected T2DM patients.
• They collected clinical and socio–demographic data by medical records.
• They applied Summary of Diabetes Self–care Activities to measure self–care about diet, blood testing, exercise and foot care.
• They applied EQ–5D to assess perceived quality of life.
• They further applied multiple regression models to assess the correlations between self–care and body mass index (BMI), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), presence of diabetes complications and quality of life (QoL).

Results

• The evidence showed that self–care was lower about exercise (median = 2.0) and foot care (median = 3.5) than about diet (median = 5.2) and blood testing (median = 4.5). HbA1c was associated with diet (p = 0.025), exercise (p = 0.017) and blood testing (p = 0.034).
• The obtained data indicates that BMI was correlated with exercise (p = 0.0071).
• The results confirmed that diabetes complications were associated with exercise (p = 0.031) and blood testing (p < 0.009).
• In addition, QoL was correlated with exercise (p < 0.0001), blood testing (p = 0.032) and foot care (p = 0.013).