Determining the awareness of self-management perceptions, self-care activities and oral health in patients with diabetes

The aim of the present study was to determine the awareness of self-management perceptions, self-care activities, and oral health in patients with diabetes. The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised 158 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria among those with diabetes who admitted to the outpatient clinic and received inpatient management in the Internal Diseases Service of İzzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital, Abant İzzet Baysal University. Data were collected through the face-to-face interview technique using Diabetes Self-Care Activities Scale, Diabetes Self-Management Scale, and a questionnaire prepared by the researcher with the review of literature. Data analysis included the numbers, percentages, mean, standard deviation, t-test, mann whitney u test and chi-square test. All p-values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. It was determined that 71. 5 % (n = 113) of the subjects with diabetes had oral health problems. The Diabetes Self-Management Scale scores of the individuals who did not change the position of the fungus and teeth in the mouth were statistically significant (p<0,05). Oral health applications and self-care activities summary scale diet scores of individuals who did not use dental prosthesis, who had high tooth / prosthesis twice daily brushing status, no tooth decay and no change in position were found to be statistically significant and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The self-care activities summary scale of the individuals who stated to the dentist that there was diabetes, without fungus in mouth, no bad smell in taste, and no loss of taste was found to be higher than those who did not specify exercise scores and it was statistically significant (p<0.05). Blood sugar scores of the self-care activities summary scale were found to be higher than those of the individuals who stated to the dentist that they had diabetes and those who did not have dental caries and dry mouth (p<0.05). Self-care activities summary scale of tooth decay and gingival withdrawal individuals was found to be higher than those with foot care scores and was statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, total scores of self-care activities summary scale scores of diabetic individuals without gingival withdrawal, tooth decay and tooth position change were statistically significant (p<0.05). People with diabetes need to be identified and supported to participate in their own care and manage their awareness. In this way, keeping the blood sugar at an appropriate level can prevent other complications such as oral health complications.