Diabetes Self-Management (2024)

FAQs

Why is self-management important for diabetes? ›

Self-care practices enable the maintenance of optimal glycemic control for patients with diabetes through a comprehensive lifestyle, medication adherence, and monitoring of blood glucose levels, preventing the complications of diabetes.

The DSMQ was developed at the Research Institute of the Diabetes Academy Mergentheim. It is the first German instrument targeting diabetes self-care, and was designed to assess behaviours associated with metabolic control within common treatment regimens for type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adult patients.

There are seven essential self-care behaviors in people with diabetes which predict good outcomes. These are healthy eating, being physically active, monitoring of blood sugar, compliant with medications, good problem-solving skills, healthy coping skills and risk-reduction behaviors[26].

Consuming balanced meals and appropriate portion sizes. Engaging in regular exercise. Drinking water and avoiding dehydration. Taking medications as prescribed.

Self-management skills boost your productivity and performance at work, which helps in achieving professional goals. It is a soft skill that increases your employability and gives you more control over your career path.

The general goals of the treatment of diabetes are to avoid acute decompensation, prevent or delay the appearance of late disease complications, decrease mortality, and maintain a good quality of life.

Lack of Information

Lack of understanding of information and a plan of care is an important barrier faced in facilitating self-care behaviors among diabetics.

The results of the study showed that in the framework of ecological approach, predictors of self-management behaviors at the four levels are as follows: at the individual level—gender (p = 0.025), education (p = 0.002), duration of diabetes (p = 0.38), having a glucometer at home (p < 0.001), diabetes empowerment (p < ...

Diabetes self-management education helps people to stay healthy and prevent costly complications, yet very few people with diabetes attend a course.

The Four Pillars of Diabetes Management

Whether you're newly diagnosed with prediabetes or have had diabetes for many years, you can still lead a full and satisfying life. The key to managing blood sugar levels is, in addition to oral medications, weight management, exercise, and eating a healthy diet.

What is the key to managing diabetes? ›

Continuous glucose monitoring is key to managing your diabetes care and help you more quickly address when your body is high or low. Follow your plan set with your doctor, even when you're feeling good. You might be tempted to skip it. But you probably feel good because your plan is working.

There are 5 pillars of type 2 diabetes treatment: diet, exercise, blood glucose autoanalysis, drugs, and control of vascular risk factors (an important question that is not dealt with in this article). A diabetic diet is always required at all phases of the disease.

Managing your ABCs may lower your chances of having health problems from diabetes, such as a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and foot or leg amputations.

Evidence. There is evidence that self-management support improves patients' health-related behaviors and results in improved clinical outcomes.

DEFINITION AND OBJECTIVES

The overall objectives of DSME are to support informed decision-making, self-care behaviors, problem-solving and active collaboration with the health care team and to improve clinical outcomes, health status, and quality of life.

When it comes to diabetes management, self-care means developing knowledge and awareness by learning to live with the complex nature of the condition. Practices include exercise, healthy eating, stress reduction techniques, and more frequent tracking of your blood sugar levels.