Examination of diabetes-related difficulties and self-management level in individuals with type 2 diabetes

This study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational study in order to investigate the difficulties experienced by individuals with type 2 diabetes and their self-management level. The study was conducted with 418 individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who applied to the internal medicine clinic and outpatient clinics of Aksaray Training and Research Hospital between December 2023 and December 2024. The data of the study were collected via face-to-face interviews using the "Introductory Information Form", "Diabetes Strengths and Difficulties Scale" and "Comprehensive Diabetes Self-Management Scale". Histogram and probability graphs and Kolmogorov Smirnow test were used to assess the suitability of the data for normal distribution. 52.4% of the participants were female, 55% were married, 19.6% were secondary school graduates, 44.3% were unemployed, 55% had an income status equal to their expenses, 33.7% smoked, and 11% used alcohol. It was determined that 46.2% of the participants had a moderate general health perception, 55.5% had first-degree relatives with diabetes, 61.7% had been hospitalized due to type 2 DM, 63.2% received education about diabetes, 54.8% did not have regular health check-ups, 74.9% did not exercise regularly, 67.9% used their medications regularly, and 67.5% sometimes measured their blood sugar. The participants' total mean score on the Strengths and Difficulties in Diabetes Scale was 98.70 ± 27.10, and the mean scores of the difficulties related to lack of information, individual difficulties, and psychosocial difficulties sub-dimensions were 25.48 ± 9.14, 24.90 ± 9.04, and 48.30 ± 13.30, respectively. The Comprehensive Diabetes Self-Management Scale mean score is 30.5 ± 6.0. The mean age of the participants is 59.41 ± 11.91, and 67.7% of them are individuals under the age of 65. In the study, a statistically significant positive but weak correlation was found between the total score of the Diabetes Strengths and Difficulties Scale and the Comprehensive Diabetes Self-Management Scale. It was found that as the difficulties experienced regarding diabetes increase, the level of self-management increases. It is recommended that training be provided to determine the difficulties experienced by individuals with diabetes and to determine the methods of coping with these difficulties.