BACKGROUND: Diabetes education and lifestyle modification are critical components in controlling blood glucose levels of people with type 2 diabetes. Until now, available data on the effectiveness of education with respect to the duration of diabetes are limited. We investigated whether adherence to lifestyle behavior modification prompted by diabetes education was influenced by the duration of diabetes. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-five people with type 2 diabetes were recruited for an intensive, collaborative, group-based diabetes education program with annual reinforcement. We divided the patients into two groups based on the duration of their diabetes prior to the education program (< or =1 year [< or =1Y] vs. > or =3 years [> or =3Y]). Dietary habits, physical activity, and the frequency of blood glucose self-monitoring were evaluated with a questionnaire prior to education and at the follow-up endpoint. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 32.2 months. The mean hemoglobin A1c (A1C) value was significantly lower in the < or =1Y group. Self-care behaviors, measured by scores for dietary habits (P=0.004) and physical activity (P<0.001), were higher at the endpoint in the < or =1Y group than in the > or =3Y group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a longer diabetes duration before education was significantly associated with mean A1C levels greater than or equal to 7.0% (53 mmol/mol). CONCLUSION: Diabetes duration influenced the effectiveness of diabetes education on lifestyle behavior modification and glycemic control. More-intense, regular, and sustained reinforcement with encouragement may be required for individuals with longstanding type 2 diabetes.
Behavior Therapy ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Food Habits ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Reinforcement (Psychology) ; Self Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the self-management behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in a community and to explore the relationship between self-management behaviors and the glycemic control. METHODS: A total of 211 type 2 DM patients in a community were selected by stratified random sampling. Patients were grouped according to the scores of self-management behaviors. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2hPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level were tested. The differences between groups and relationship between self-management behaviors and glycemic control were analyzed. RESULTS: Self-management behaviors of most patients were not effective, and 2hPG and HbA1C were affected by different levels of the self-management behaviors (P<0.05). The self-management behaviors were negatively related to FPG (r=-0.277, P=0.015), 2hPG (r=-0.453, P=0.001), and HbA1C (r=-0.435, P=0.001). Glycemic control of the patients whose course of disease was over 5 years was significantly different due to different self-management behaviors. FPG level of the patients was positively related to alimentary control. The 2hPG level of the patients was positively related to alimentary control, medication persistence, and blood glucose self-monitoring. The HbA1C level of the patients was positively related to alimentary control and medication persistence. The times the patients received DM education, the way to use insulin, and the disease course of the patients were important factors to affect self-management behaviors of type 2 DM in the community. CONCLUSION Self-management behaviors of type 2 DM patients in the community are not effective. Satisfactory self-management behaviors, specially the control of 2hPG and HbA1C are beneficial to glycemic control. We can improve the self-management behaviors in type 2 DM patients by paying attention to the disease course, the treatment method, and the contents and effect of DM education.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Attitude to Health ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Community Networks ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; psychology ; therapy ; Diet, Diabetic ; methods ; psychology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic ; Self Care ; methods ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To examine the psychometric properties of a Turkish version of the Diabetes Fear of Injecting and Self-testing Questionnaire (D-FISQ). METHODS: Forward-backward translation of the D-FISQ from English into Turkish was conducted. Original English and translated forms were examined by a panel group. Validity was investigated using content, confirmatory factor analysis, and divergent validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach α values, item-total correlations, and intraclass correlations. The sample comprised 350 patients with diabetes. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 for Windows and LISREL 8. RESULTS: The content validity index for the panel members was .90, which indicated perfect content validity; items in D-FISQ were clear, concise, readable, and distinct. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original construct of the D-FISQ. All items had factor loadings higher than the recommended level of .40. The D-FISQ scores were discriminated by the level of anxiety. Reliability results were also satisfactory. Cronbach α values were within ideal limits. Item-total correlation coefficient ranged from .72 to .86. In terms of test-retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be over .90. CONCLUSIONS: D-FISQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire in assessing needle-prick fear among Turkish patients with diabetes. We recommend performing the Turkish D-FISQ in determining and screening patients with diabetes who have fear related to self-insulin injection and finger-prick test. Thus, health care professionals should be aware of the potential consequences of injection fear such as insulin misuse and poor self-monitoring of blood glucose, which may have unfavorable effects on optimal diabetes management.
Anxiety/etiology ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring/psychology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy/*psychology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy/*psychology ; *Fear ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage ; Injections/psychology ; Insulin/administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Care/psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires/standards ; Translations ; Turkey