Self-management behaviors and its correlation with maintenance blood glucose level control among diabetes mellitus patients: A longitudinal design study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from insulin resistance and/or impaired insulin secretion. Effective self-management behaviors are essential for maintaining glycemic control and preventing long-term complications. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate diabetes self-management behaviors and examine their correlation with blood glucose maintenance among patients with DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted at Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital, Iraq, involving 120 patients recruited through simple random sampling. Data collection was performed at three observation points over a defined follow-up period. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain socio-demographic and clinical information, while the diabetes self-management questionnaire (DSMQ) was applied to assess self-management behaviors. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were measured to evaluate glycemic control. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, pairwise t -tests, and multiple linear regression using SPSS version 26 to determine associations and predictors of self-management outcomes. RESULTS: More than half of the participants (55.3%) demonstrated poor knowledge regarding diabetes management. Significant associations ( P < 0.05) were observed between self-management behaviors and socio-demographic variables such as income, education, employment, family history, type of diabetes, duration since diagnosis, and HbA1c levels. Longitudinal assessments revealed a progressive decline in perfect self-management, with most patients stabilizing at partially adequate levels (from 25% at baseline to 85.8% at the third observation). CONCLUSION: Patient education contributes to improvements in diabetes self-management and glycemic control over time; however, gaps remain, particularly among individuals with lower socio-economic status. Comprehensive, culturally tailored interventions addressing both educational and socio-economic barriers are necessary to enhance self-management skills, optimize glycemic outcomes, and reduce health disparities.