ABSTRACT
Diabetes is a multi-factorial chronic disease that has no absolute cure and requires continuous self-care. Emotional disorders such as alexithymia have been considered as one of the major barriers to self-care behaviors in diabetes control. This study aimed to compare glycemic control indicators in patients with type II diabetes in two alexithymic and non-alexithymic groups. This was a cross-sectional study with a study sample of 80 [47 females and 33 males, aged 40 to 60 years] type 2 diabetic out-patients who referred to clinics of the Labbafinejad hospital in 2012. Data collected, using 3 questionnaires included information on demographic, anthropometric and clinical characteristics, a summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scales. Blood tests were performed to obtain HbA1c. Pearson's correlation coefficients showed alexithymia has a significant negative association with self-care activities [-0.49] and a significant positive association with HbA1c levels [0.44]. Results of t-test indicated that self-care activities in alexithymic group were significantly lesser than the non-alexithymic one and their glycated haemoglobin was higher than this group. Alexithymia in patients with type II diabetes limits their ability in their self-care activities, resulting in higher levels of glycated haemoglobin in these patients, compared to the non-alexithymic group, results which could initiate related research on potential emotional problems in patients with type 2 diabetes and enhance their diabetes control
ABSTRACT
Diabetes is a complex and chronic disease associated with patients' quality of life. Previous studies have considered self-care as an important and necessary parameter for changing personal lifestyle and influencing the control of diabetes. The purpose of present study was to examine the relationship between self care activities of type 2 diabetic patients' and glycated hemoglobin levels [HbA1c] as well as their perceived diabetes-related quality of life. This is a cross-sectional study 100 [60 females and 40 males, aged 40 to 70 years] type 2 diabetic out-patients visiting the Labbafinejad hospital in 2012. Measures of data collection included demographic, anthropometric and clinical questionnaires, the short scale for self-care activities and the diabetes-related quality of life. Blood tests were performed to obtain HbA1c levels and other laboratory measures related to the study. Pearson's correlation coefficients showed a significant association between better reported self-care activities and lower HbA1c levels along with better perceived diabetes-dependent quality of life. Results of regression analyses, after control of age indicated that self-care activities explained 40% of HbA1c variance and 58% of quality of life. Based on the present data, diabetes-related self care predicted HbA1c levels and diabetes-dependent perceived quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes, results that draw attention to the psychological factors effective in the prevention of diabetes complications and hence help in the conceptualization, planning and design of treatment policies for more effective control of type 2 diabetes