Diabetes Self-Management and Health-Related Quality of Life among Primary Care Patients with Diabetes in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diabetes Self-Management in Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare worldwide, potentially impacting disease management. The objective of this study was to assess the self-management behaviors of Saudi patients with diabetes during and after the COVID pandemic period using the Arabic version of the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had at least one ambulatory clinic visit in each of the specified time frames (Pre-COVID-19: 1 January 2019-21 March 2020; COVID-19 Time frame: 22 March 2020 to 30 April 2021) utilizing the DSMQ questionnaire, with an additional three questions specifically related to their diabetes care during the COVID pandemic. A total of 341 patients participated in the study. The study results revealed that the surveyed patients showed moderately high self-care activities post-COVID-19. Total DSMQ scores were significantly higher in patients aged >60 years versus younger groups (p < 0.05). Scores were significantly lower in patients diagnosed for 1-5 years versus longer durations (p < 0.05). Patients on insulin had higher glucose management sub-scores than oral medication users (p < 0.05). Overall, DSMQ scores were higher than the pre-pandemic Saudi population and Turkish post-pandemic findings. DSMQ results suggest that, while COVID-19 negatively impacted some self-management domains, the Saudi patients surveyed in this study upheld relatively good diabetes control during the pandemic. Further research is warranted on specific barriers to optimize diabetes care during public health crises.

Diabetes self-management and its related factors among Chinese young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To explore the status quo of self-management among young adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the determinants of self-management under the guidance of social cognitive theory.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

In total, 227 young adults (18-44 years old) with T2DM at two hospitals in Beijing completed the questionnaires. The Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities (SDSCA) was used, along with additional questionnaires about diabetes self-efficacy, attitude, diabetes distress, diabetes knowledge, coping styles and social support. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used to explore the related factors of self-management among the young patients.

RESULTS

The scores for the SDSCA in diet, exercise, blood-glucose testing, foot care and medication taking were (4.16 ± 1.51), (3.46 ± 2.50), (2.28 ± 2.24), (1.08 ± 1.84) and (6.09 ± 1.88), respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that fasting blood-glucose value was significantly associated with self-management behaviours of diet, exercise, blood-glucose testing and medication taking. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with self-management behaviours of diet, exercise and foot care. Diabetes distress, diabetes-related social activity, confrontation, education, duration of T2DM, treatment modalities and diabetes knowledge were associated with the one or two dimensions of SDSCA in the young adults with T2DM.

Health-Related Quality of Life Assessment in Older Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are determinants of health-related outcomes including health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to determine differences in HRQOL between older adults with T1D and T2D and specific factors influencing HRQOL in this age group. This study used a cross-sectional design with 56 age- and HbA1c-matched T1D and T2D patients (aged 68.9 ± 7.8 years; 55% had T2D). We employed several validated questionnaires (Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the EuroQol-5 Dimensions/Visual Analog Scale (VAS)) to investigate the relationships between HRQOL domains and diabetes type, glycemic control, complications, and comorbidities. T1D was associated with better self-reported general health (assessed with the SF-36 general health domain (p = 0.048) and the EuroQol-5 VAS (p = 0.002), whereas no significant differences in the other SF-36 domains, self-reported diabetes distress, anxiety, or depression were found. Most HRQOL domains were not associated with HbA1c or the presence of diabetes complications. The most significant reduction in HRQOL was experienced by patients with higher BMIs, irrespective of the diabetes type. The obtained HRQOL data could be used in clinical settings for evidence-based patient education focused on specific subgroups of patients, as well as in national healthcare policies, e.g., interventions designed to alleviate obesity.

Predicting Factors of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Introduction

One of the most important outcomes of diabetes care and treatment is an improvement in patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Objective

This study aimed to review the empirical evidence regarding the predictors of HRQoL among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

To find all English-language articles published between 2012 and 2022, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and CORE. Cross-sectional studies were the focus of this analysis. Search terms included "type 2 diabetes" OR "T2DM" AND "health-related quality of life" OR "HRQoL" AND ("predicting factors" OR "influencing factors" OR "associated factors"). The original search yielded a total of 1,089 studies, from which 35 met the review's inclusion criteria. The systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO CRD42023431229.

Results

The final analysis comprised 24,346 people with type 2 diabetes and used data from 35 cross-sectional studies conducted during the preceding decade. Socio-demographic factors (age, marital status, gender, monthly income, education, area of residence, and religiosity), patient-centered factors (diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy), disease characteristics (comorbidities, duration of diabetes, and insulin treatment), self-management behaviors (physical activity, medication adherence, and frequent glucose checks), and family support were found to be predictors of HRQoL.

Conclusion

A diabetes program to enhance the HRQoL among people with T2DM is highly encouraged to address these factors, which can be focused on promoting self-management behaviors, diabetes distress management, and encourage family support.