[Diabetes Self-Management Experience of Patients with Diabetes: Focused on the Visually Impaired]

A Tailored Intervention for Improving Diabetes Self-care Among Adults With Visual Impairment: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

Our aim in this study was to develop and evaluate a tailored intervention for improving diabetes self-care among people with visual impairment (TID-VI) in South Korea.

METHODS

The TID-VI program was designed around the barriers, resources, and perceptual factors to promote diabetes self-care in those with visual impairment (VI). A single-arm pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of the intervention. Diabetes self-efficacy, self-care behaviours, depression, health-related quality of life, and clinical outcomes (fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin [A1C], lipids, and blood pressure) were measured before, and up to 2 months after the 12-week intervention.

RESULTS

All 14 participants completed TID-VI. Diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes self-care behaviours, depression, and health-related quality of life showed improvement from baseline that was sustained at 2 months. Although high- and low-density lipoprotein also improved, there were no differences in blood glucose, A1C, total cholesterol, or blood pressure at 2 months.

CONCLUSIONS

A theory-driven, tailored intervention specific to the needs of adults with VI can produce substantial improvements in patient-reported quality of life and health status outcomes, although the benefits are yet to be confirmed in a controlled study.

Widening disparities in the national prevalence of diabetes mellitus for people with disabilities in South Korea

OBJECTIVES

In Korea, diabetes mellitus has a high disease burden, based on disability-adjusted life years. However, the disease burden is disproportionately distributed, with people with disabilities (PWD) experiencing higher rates of health disparities. Our study investigated long-term trends in diabetes prevalence and risk according to disability status, grade, and type.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Approximately 10 million individuals aged ≥30 years were included yearly from the National Health Information Database (NHID) and national disability registration data in Korea between 2008 and 2017, corresponding to 40 % of those aged ≥30 years in Korea. In 2017, 12, 975, 757 individuals were included; 5.5 % had disabilities. We estimated annual diabetes age-standardized prevalence and used multiple logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds of having diabetes in 2017, according to disability status, severity, and type.

RESULTS

Diabetes age-standardized prevalence consistently increased over 2008-2017 in PWD and people without disabilities. However, the prevalence increased more rapidly and was higher in all years among PWD, with widening disparities based on disability status. Additionally, diabetes prevalence was high in all years for specific subgroups, including women, individuals with intellectual or mental disabilities or autism, and individuals with severe disabilities, suggesting further disparities among PWD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal health disparities between those with and without disabilities and among PWD subgroups. In addition to timely prevention, diabetes screening and management among PWD is vital. Public investment in improving disparities in the root causes of diabetes is essential, including health behaviours, healthcare utilization, and self-care.

The Impact of Visual Impairment on Healthcare Use among Four Medical Institution Types: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study in Korea

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of visual impairment (VI) onset on the use of healthcare services across four types of institutions in South Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We utilized data from the National Health Insurance Service database from 2006 to 2015 for 714 persons who experienced VI onset in 2009-2012 and for 2856 matched persons for a 1:4 ratio of matching controls. We compared trends in healthcare use and expenditures for eye diseases at clinics, hospitals, general hospitals, and tertiary teaching hospitals using 3 years of data prior to and after the onset of VI.

RESULTS

The inpatient and outpatient healthcare expenditures of individuals with VI were higher than those without VI, peaking at the pre-VI onset period in tertiary teaching hospitals. During the pre-VI onset period, the proportion of healthcare expenditures attributed to eye diseases ranged 11%-40.8% among individuals with VI, but 1.9%-11% among individuals without VI at the four types of institutions. The differences in healthcare use between the pre- and post-VI periods were primarily observed in tertiary teaching hospitals for inpatient care. There was a peak in utilization of outpatient care in the year preceding VI onset at tertiary teaching hospitals, clinics, and hospitals, but there was a decrease in outpatient care over time during the post-VI period.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest economic burden of healthcare in tertiary teaching hospitals during pre-VI onset period and a potential lack of regular management and continuity of care in post-VI periods.

Association between Visual Impairment and Nutritional Risk among Older Adults with Diabetes: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

Despite the high prevalence of visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy and nutritional problems among older adults with diabetes, evidence regarding factors related to nutritional risk in this population is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the correlates of nutritional risk among older adults with diabetes, focusing on visual impairment.

METHODS

This study was a secondary data analysis of the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans aged 65 years and above. The sample comprised 2,376 older adults with diabetes, and complex sample ANOVA and Rao-Scott chi-square tests were used to compare the groups according to visual impairment. Complex-sample logistic regression analyses were conducted to verify the association between visual impairment and nutritional risk.

RESULTS

Older adults with diabetes, who also have severe visual impairment, are more likely to have nutritional risk status than those without impairment after controlling for covariates (odds ratio [OR] = 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16~5.13). Among the covariates, depression (OR = 3.58, 95% CI 2.60~4.94), dependent activities of daily living status (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.60~4.86), and experience of hospitalization during the past year (OR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.57~4.03) were strongly associated with nutritional risk.

CONCLUSION

Severe visual impairment increases the nutritional risk among older adults with diabetes. Therefore, it is essential to prevent visual impairment due to exacerbation of diabetes through appropriate management. Additionally, tailored nutritional interventions for visually impaired older adults with diabetes that consider visual characteristics are required.

Who are the most vulnerable populations for primary care? Avoidable hospitalizations across individuals with different types of disabilities in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Individuals with disabilities have limited access to primary care, the quality of care must be examined.

OBJECTIVE

To examine avoidable hospitalizations among individuals with disabilities and determine the most vulnerable populations across types of disabilities.

METHODS

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database, we compared hypertension- and diabetes-related avoidable hospitalizations (HRAH and DRAH, respectively) across disability status and disability type based on age-sex standardized rates from 2011 to 2020 and logistic regression.

RESULTS

The gap between those with and without disabilities in age-sex standardized HRAH and DRAH increased over 10 years. Odds ratios for HRAH were higher for those with disabilities, with individuals with mental disabilities having the highest odds ratio, followed by those with intellectual/developmental disabilities, then those with physical disabilities; for DRAH, the three highest odds ratios belonged to individuals with mental, intellectual/developmental, and visual disabilities. Among those with disabilities, HRAH was higher for those with mental, intellectual/developmental, and severe physical disabilities, whereas DRAH was higher for those with mental, severe visual, and intellectual/developmental disabilities compared to those with mild physical disabilities.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals high avoidable hospitalization rates among individuals with disabilities and calls for policies supporting quality primary care and comprehensively addressing disparities.

Factors Associated With Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors of People With Visual Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors associated with diabetes self-care behaviors (DSCB) in people with visual impairment (PVI), including demographics, disease-related characteristics, and psychosocial factors (self-efficacy, depression, and family support).

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Adults with visual impairment and diabetes were recruited online and through posting notices, and a total of 141 participants were included. Measurements were completed using email and telephone surveys. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the factors associated with DSCB.

RESULTS

Higher self-efficacy and positive family support were significant predictors of better DSCB, whereas higher negative family support was a significant predictor of worse DSCB. Diabetes medication regimen was another major influencing factor on DSCB. However, depression was not associated with DSCB.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes interventions for the visually impaired should have strategies to improve vulnerable areas of diabetes self-care, such as blood glucose monitoring. Health care providers are needed to consider diabetes education programs focused on improving self-efficacy or include family members in interventions to promote DSCB in PVI. Further studies are required to understand the problems and solutions for diabetes self-care in this population.