Diabetes self care activities among adults 20 years and above residing in a resettlement colony in East Delhi

• Published in: Indian journal of public health Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 104 - 110
• Main Authors: Mohandas, Anu, Bhasin, S, Upadhyay, Madhu, Madhu, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2018; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adult; Adults; Aged; Behavior; Blood; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Cardiovascular disease; Care and treatment; Colonies; Complications; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus - therapy; Diabetes self-care; Diabetic Foot - prevention & control; Diabetics; Diet; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Exercise; Feet; Female; foot care; Foot diseases; Health aspects; Humans; India; Insulin; Male; Medical Assistance - statistics & numerical data; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Patients; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Poverty; Questionnaires; Resettlement; Self care (Health); Self Care - methods; Self Care - statistics & numerical data; self-management of diabetes; self-monitoring of blood glucose; Severity of Illness Index; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys; Young Adult; India; Diabetes self-care; self-management of diabetes; foot care; self-monitoring of blood glucose
• ISSN: 0019-557X; 2229-7693
• DOI: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_249_17

Background: Self-care activities are the cornerstone of diabetes care that ensures patients participation to achieve optimal glycemic control and to prevent complications. Objective: The aim of this study is to find the level of self-care activities among diabetics aged ≥20 years residing in a resettlement colony in East Delhi and its association with sociodemographic factors, disease, and treatment profile. Methods: Using cross-sectional survey, 168 known diabetic patients were selected from Nand Nagri, a resettlement colony in East Delhi. Data were collected using Hindi translation of revised version-Summary of Diabetic Self Care Activities along with a pretested semi-open-ended questionnaire. Self-care was assessed on six parameters as follows: (a) general diet, (b) specific diet, (c) exercise, (d) blood sugar testing, (e) foot-care, and (f) smoking. The study period was from November 2014 to April 2016. Results: Nearly 35.1% of respondents belonged to 60-69 years age group. About 52.4% of respondents were female. Fifty-two diabetics (31%) reported having practised diet control on all 7 days in the past 1 week. Nearly 39.3% of patients did not perform any physical activity. The blood test was not practised by 92.3% of respondents. Foot-care was practised by only 19% of patients. There was a significant association between general diet among diabetics with family support (P = 0.020), place of diagnosis (P = 0.033), and treatment funds (P = 0.017). The exercise score among diabetics who were below the poverty line was higher than those above poverty line (P = 0.029). Younger age (P = 0.005) and treatment with insulin (P = 0.008) were positively associated with blood glucose testing. The foot-care practice was better in patients aware of complications and foot-care practices (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Self-care activities among diabetic patients were very poor. Self-management educational programs at hospitals along with information, education, and communication activities at the community level and one-to-one counseling are recommended.