Evaluation of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities and Glycemic Control Profiles in People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disorder requiring long‐term medication therapy. In addition to medication therapy, appropriate diabetes self‐care activities are crucial for the management and prevention of complications of diabetes mellitus. The study aims to investigate diabetes self‐care activity and explore its relationship with patients’ characteristics and glycemic control profiles among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted among type 2 diabetic patients visiting Purbanchal University Hospital from January to March 2024. The Diabetes Self‐Management Questionnaire (DSMQ) was used to assess diabetes self‐care activities. The patient's glycemic profiles were evaluated based on control of fasting blood sugar (FBS), post‐prandial blood sugar (PPBS), and glycated hemoglobin value (HbA1C) levels. Chi‐square and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to measure the association between patients’ characteristics with glycemic control indicators and diabetic self‐management indicator scores. Results A total of 139 patients participated in the study, of whom the majority were male (54.7%) and aged ≤ 60 years (64.7%). Despite receiving diabetic medication, 54.7% of patients exhibited elevated fasting blood glucose ( ≥ 126 mg/dL), and 57% had HbA1c levels > 7%, indicating poor glycemic control. The average score for self‐care activities, assessed using the 10‐point DSMQ scale, was 5.45 ± 1.17, reflecting limited engagement in diabetes self‐care. Smoking habits were significantly associated with elevated HbA1c levels ( p = 0.039). Gender, education status, and smoking habits substantially influenced overall self‐management activity, and proper control over all glycemic indicators was linked to better physical and glucose management activity scores, which were statistically significant at p < 0.05. Conclusion Although patients were on medication, the majority exhibited poor glycemic control, compounded by limited self‐care activities. Enhanced diabetic self‐care practices, such as physical activity, glucose management, and dietary control, could significantly improve glycemic control in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.