RESUMO
PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the degree of self-care, family support and depression, and relationship among these variables for elder with diabetes mellitus. METHOD: Participants were 202 diabetic patients, 65 years or over, living in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected using the self-care tool for diabetic patients by Kim (1996), the family support tool for diabetic patients by Park (1984), and Korea\' s BDI scale by Lee (1995). RESULTS: Of the patients, 43.1% showed HbA1c levels than higher 7%. The highest mean score was for self-care for medication compliance, and the lowest for blood glucose testing compliance. Factors affecting self-care were employment, education, HbA1c level, diabetic self-care education and complications. Factors affecting family support were living with family, diabetic self-care education, hospitalization and complications. Factors affecting depression were gender, living with family and complications. All of these factors were significant. Patients experiencing depression were 16.8% of patients. There was a significant positive correlation between self-care and family support, and significant negative correlations between self-care and depression, and family support and depression. CONCLUSION: For more effective management of diabetes mellitus in elders, improvement in self-care compliance, and family support are needed