Self-Care and Related Factors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Nazila Nejaddadgar * , Mahnaz Solhi, Shiva Jegarghosheh, Metra Abolfathi, Hossein Ashtarian Technology and Research Deputy of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Abstract Background & Objective: One of the factors that control the complication of diabetes is patient’s involvement in the treatment process which is effective in improving quality of life as well as reducing health care costs. The aim of this study was to determine self-care behaviour and related factors in type 2 diabetic patients referred to the Diabetes Center of Ardabil. Methods and materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 382 patients referred to the Diabetes Center of Ardabil, by using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected by utilizing a demographic questionnaire and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire (SDSCA), which evaluates the status of patients’ self-care during last seven days. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16.0 and tests such as: t-test, chi-square and correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score of self-care was low in 63.6% of patients; it was average in 31.7% of them, and good in 4.7% of diabetics. The mean score of self-care in patients was 44.53 ± 16.7, and the lowest mean score of self-care respectively was related to test blood sugar: 3.6 ± 3.9, regular drug use: 4.9 ± 2.4, and physical activity 5.1 ± 6.5respectively. The maximum mean scores were related to following healthy diet: 16.25 ± 6.4, and foot care: 14.4 ± 8.3. There was a significant relationship between gender and doing blood sugar test (P<0.006), education and self- care (P<0.001), marital status and self- care (P<0.004), income and nutrition (P<0.001). Conclusion: The majority of diabetic patients had a poor score of self- care. The lowest score of self-care was related to doing blood sugar test, regular drug use and physical activity. For this reason it is recommended that regular educational and model-based interventions should be planned and given at regular intervals for improvement of self- care characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes, Self-care, Type 2 diabetes, SDSCA questionnaire Accepted on April 18, 2017 Introduction Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases, and because of its growing trend, is considered to be one of the most important public health problems in the world. The disease has led to 9% of all deaths worldwide, and it is the fifth leading cause of death in Western societies, also the fourth reason for going to a doctor [1]. Currently, more than 230 million people worldwide are suffering from this disease, which will increase up to 380 million till 2025, as World Health Organization has predicted. Therefore, according to this in developed countries, the number of patients will be from 51 million to 72 million that is 42 percent increase in numberas compared to 170 percent in developing countries, that will be from 84 million to 228 million [2]. Generally, in Iran the prevalence of diabetes is 2-3% of the country's population, it is about 3.7% in people over 30 years old and 13% in people with undiagnosed diabetes [3]. Studies have shown that despite normal living conditions, diabetics are affected by complications of diabetes such as neuropathy, nephropathy, stroke, etc. in the long term[4].In other words, diabetes is the most important cause of blindness and chronic renal failure in adults. Moreover, diabetics are at risk of heart disease, 2 to 4 times more than the non-diabetic patients [5]. Therefore, it is important due to its direct and indirect financial burden on the health care system and its impact on the quality of life, as well. The survey by the World Health Organization indicates that 16 percent of hospital costs and 58 percent of all amputations relates to diabetics [6]. Given that diabetes is a lifelong disorder with no cure, the lack of patients’ participation in the process of treatment is one of the reasons for the lack of success and attaining the desired results in the care of diabetics. Therefore, the disease involves self-care behaviours by the patients throughout the lifetime [7]. According to the surveys, the most important reason for mortality in diabetics is lack of self-care behaviour [8]. Self- Care is patient’s active participation in daily care activities such as regular drug use, diet, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring and foot care [9]. Inadequate self-care in diabetics is as a major problem which health care providers encounter. This issue not only has an impact on mortality rates but also, increases treatment costs. The results of a lot of studies show that diabetics have not Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN 2249 – 622X Asian J Biomed Pharmaceut Sci 2017 Volume 7 Issue 61 6