Diabetes health literacy and diabetes health promoting self care in patients with Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing global health problems of the 21st century. Effective and sustainable diabetes self-care management can mitigate the complications of the disease, reduce its physiological and psychological effects, and improve quality of life. One of the factors influencing patients' diabetes self-care management is health literacy. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between diabetes health literacy and self-care in promoting diabetes health among individuals with Type 2 diabetes. The research is descriptive and cross-sectional in nature. The study sample consisted of 321 Type 2 diabetes patients who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate, all of whom were admitted to the endocrinology outpatient clinic of Pamukkale University Hospital. Data collection took place between April and June 2024. Data collection tools included the "Personal Information Form," which collected socio-demographic, health-related, and disease-related information; the "Diabetes Health Literacy Scale"; and the "Self-Care in Promoting Diabetes Health Scale." Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 21.0 statistical package. In the analysis of the data, number and percentage distributions, mean and standard deviation, kurtosis and skewness values, Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality tests, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman correlation analysis were used. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of self-care in promoting diabetes health. As a result of the analyses, the mean total score of the Diabetes Health Literacy Scale was 2.47±0.66, and the mean total score of the Diabetes Health-Promoting Self-Care Scale was 3.33±0.60. A moderately positive and statistically significant relationship was found between diabetes health literacy and health-promoting self-care behaviors in patients with Type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, the overall diabetes health literacy level of patients with Type 2 diabetes was found to be low, while their health promoting self-care level was moderate. According to the linear regression analysis, health literacy was identified as the most significant variable affecting diabetes health promoting self-care behavior (β=0.59). It is recommended that specific educational programs be developed and nursing interventions be planned to increase the diabetes health literacy levels of diabetic patients and to enhance their health-promoting self-care behaviors. Further randomized and controlled studies are recommended to improve patients' health literacy and self-care behaviors. Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes; Diabetes Health Literacy; Diabetes Self-Care; Health Promotion