A Study on Self-Care Practices among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring consistent self-care practices to manage blood glucose levels and prevent complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, neuropathy, and kidney failure. Globally, T2DM affects millions, with increasing prevalence in developing countries like Indonesia. Despite its critical role, adherence to self-care remains a significant challenge for many patients, particularly in low-resource settings.Objective: This study aimed to explore and describe the self-care practices of patients with T2DM at Pindad General Hospital, Bandung Indonesia. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 135 patients who had been diagnosed with T2DM for at least three months at Pindad General Hospital. Data were collected using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire. The SDSCA assessed key self-care domains, including diet, physical activity, medication adherence, foot care, and blood glucose monitoring. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: Overall, 70% of patients demonstrated good self-care practices. Among the self-care domains, 56.3% of patients adhered to a healthy diet, 60% engaged in adequate physical activity, 68.1% regularly monitored their blood glucose levels, 77.8% adhered to their medication schedules, and 77.28% performed proper foot care. Conclusion: Self-care practices among T2DM patients at Pindad General Hospital varied across different domains. While medication adherence and foot care were relatively high, dietary practices, physical activity, and blood glucose monitoring require targeted interventions for improvement. Future research should focus on identifying barriers to effective self-care practices in this population.

Keywords: Type 2 DM, self care, diabetes management, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA)