Self-Care Management Practices of Diabetic Patients Type 2 in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background & Aim: Patients’ self-care management practice in diabetes is considered a critical element to keep diabetes under control and the disease management is usually conducted by the patients themselves and/or their families. The main aim of this study is to assess the level of self-care management practices of diabetic patients type 2 in Saudi Arabia. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study design was utilized in the Prince Sultan Military Medical City in Riyadh on a convenience sampling method consisted of 377 diabetic patients type 2. The researcher used a self-administered questionnaire (Summery of Diabetes Self-care Activities) which was adopted from Toobert et al. (2000). Results: The study results revealed that the level of self-care management practices among patients with type 2 DM is not satisfactory, except in the medication domain. Conclusion & Recommendations: Policymakers should revise the education strategy for diabetic patients and develop health education campaigns that focus on the patient’s family as well as the individual with type-2 DM.