Adherence to Self-care Practices among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Rural Area of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Developing countries like India are facing an increased threat from both non communicable and communicable diseases. The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) among non communicable diseases has been rapidly increasing in India. The complications of diabetes, including both acute and chronic effects, impact the physical, mental, and social well being of patients. The effectiveness of diabetes management solely depends on the self-care practices adopted by individuals and their family members. Aim: To evaluate the patterns of self-care practices among diabetic patients and the factors associated with them. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 206 diabetic patients in and around the rural field practice area of ACS Medical College and Hospital in Thiruvallur district, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from June 2022 to November 2022. Type 2 DM patients aged ≥18 years were included in the study. The participants were interviewed about their diabetic status and various parameters of self-care practices, using the Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities (SDSCA) score. The Chi-square test was applied to assess the relationship between self-care practices and factors such as age and gender. Results: The mean age of the participants was 47±10 years. The present study observed that the overall prevalence of poor self-care practices was low, with 92 participants (44.7%) exhibiting poor practices and 114 participants (55.3%) demonstrating good self-care practices. In the current study, the association between self-care activities and education level, as well as the clinical profile of the patients, was statistically significant. A negative linear correlation was found between self-care practice scores and blood glucose levels. Conclusion: Self-care behaviours among diabetes patients were found to be good in more than half of the study population. These behaviours were significantly associated with age, education level, and complications of diabetes. The results emphasise the complex nature of self-care behaviours among individuals with DM and highlight the necessity for customised therapies that target individual challenges and foster supportive environments.

Keywords

• diabetes management
• diet
• exercises
• foot care
• physical activity