IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 9, Issue 3 Ser. VII (May - June 2020), PP 08-15 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1959-0903070815 www.iosrjournals.org 8 | Page Self-Care Behaviors among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Bangladesh Soorwar Jahan 1 , Dr. Mohammad Nurul Anowar 2 , Dr. Md. Shariful Islam 2 , Dr. Khaleda Akter 3 1 Senior Staff Nurse, Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka Cantonment, Bangladesh. 2 Faculty of Adult and Elderly Health Nursing,National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research(NIANER), Dhaka, Bangladesh. 3 Faculty of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research (NIANER), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Corresponding Author: Soorwar Jahan ABSTRACT Background:Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine diseases in the world which is causing many health problem. Self-care behavior of diabetes mellitus is an essential part for controlling the disease which results in a better state of health and improvement of quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the self-care behaviors among type 2 DM patient in Bangladesh. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted among 120 hospitalized type 2 DM patients in Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka. The study participants were selected conveniently. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as independent t-test, One way ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Results: The mean age of the sample was 54.38 (SD=10.96) years. The total mean score of self - care behavior was 1.53 in a 4 point Likert Scale. It indicates that diabetic patients had a lower level of self-care behaviors. The findings revealed that, age (p=.000), gender (p=.002), occupation (p=.008), consume smoke tobacco (p=.001), smokeless tobacco (p=.032), physical exercise (p=.000), glucometer use (p=.000) and other co-morbidities (p=.016) were significantly associated with total self-care behaviors. Conclusion: The patients with type 2 DM have lower level of self-care and having suffering from large number of co-morbidities and complications. Priority to be given to improve affected patient education and support in diabetes clinics to ensure better self- care practices and avoid early development of complications Key Word: Diabetes mellitus, Type 2, Self-Care Behavior, Self-Care Practice -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 26-05-2020 Date of Acceptance: 13-06-2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Self-care behaviors is the prime importance for the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetes self-care behaviors is challenging that has been taken into consideration as powerful strategies to control diabetes 1 . Diabetes is one of the greatest worldwide health emergencies of the 21 st century 2 and the seventh leading cause of mortality in the world 3 . Diabetes is a dangerous disorder in the each develop and developing country including Bangladesh 4 . The prevalence of DM has increased dramatically in most country around the world 5 . In Bangladesh, 8.4 million, or 10% of the total population of Bangladesh are affected in diabetes mellitus 6 . However, about 425 million people worldwide were suffering from diabetes and it was estimated to increase to 629 million by 2045 2 . Approximately 79% stay in low and middleincome internationally. In contrast of South East Asia, 82 million adults live with diabetes and 0.58 million people death due to diabetes earlier than age 60 years in 2017 2 . Several risk factors of DM have been identified include raised blood pressure, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor dietary patterns and overweight, genetics, family history of diabetes, past history of gestational diabetes and older age 7 . Type 2 DM is alifelong health condition that can have an effect onthe affected person’s circumstance significantly. Patient’s functional capacity, physical obstacle, ache and well-known state of health are mostly affected in diabetes sufferers 8 . The morbidity and mortality rate are high due to diabetes complications 9 .Various macrovascular and microvascular complications introduce a widespread burden, both health and social economic and claims have been made that diabetes is one of the world’s most important causes of expenditure, mortality, disability and financial loss 2,4,10,11 . The complication can be reduced by improving self-care behaviors 12 . Self-care of diabetes is an important element of controlling the disease and improvement of quality of life in type 2 DM patient 13 . A study was conducted in India to estimate the existing self-care behaviors and