(P07-020-25) Assessing Self-Care Behaviors in Type 2 Diabetes Using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire

Objectives: To assess adherence to self-management guidelines by patients with T2D.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online via Qualtrics, with participants recruited from Facebook. Eligibility included a T2D diagnosis for at least two years and attendance at a diabetes education clinic at a government-funded or mission hospital within the past year. Data were collected from May 2022 to April 2023 using the validated Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire, assessing adherence across six domains (diet, physical activity, glucose monitoring, foot care, smoking, and medication adherence). Participants reported the frequency of self-care behaviors (0–7 days per week), with adherence measured over two non-consecutive weeks. Chi-square tests assessed relationships between self-care behaviors and participant characteristics.

Results: Among 111 participants, 64% were female, with a mean age of 43 years (SD = 8.09) and an average diabetes duration of 11.5 years. Over 68% were overweight or obese, and 67.8% had at least a college education. The most practiced self-care behaviors were blood glucose testing (63.2%; mean 4/7 days) and healthy eating (60.4%; mean 3.5/7 days). Medication adherence (44.1%; mean 3/7 days), physical activity (43.2%; mean 2.5/7 days) and foot care (32%; mean 1.5/7 days), were less frequent, with smoking cessation (7.2%; mean 1/7 days) being the least adhered-to. Age, diabetes duration, and education were significantly associated with better self-care behaviors (p < 0.003, p< 0.001, and p< 0.001, respectively). No significant differences were found across BMI, gender, or marital status.

Conclusions: While blood glucose monitoring and healthy eating were the most consistently practiced self-care behaviors, adherence to other key behaviors such as medication adherence, exercise, foot care, and smoking cessation, remains insufficient. Targeted interventions addressing these gaps, particularly among younger and newly diagnosed individuals, are essential to enhance self-care and improve health outcomes.

Funding Sources: The authors received no funding for this research.