Self-care Behavior in Diabetes management

Patient with good diabetic self -care behavior can attain good glycemic  control.However many patients do not achieve good glycemic control and suffer many health problem as a result. Diabetes is a chronic illness requiring a variety of self-management behaviors-

Healthy Eating :

Healthy eating can prevent or delay diabetes and its complications. Rather than  stop eating a certain food, it is often much more effective to reach agreement that the  begin by reducing consumption of that food. This approach of behavioural goal setting is far more likely to result in experiencing success and can serve to motivate making subsequent lifestyle changes easier.
 

Being Active

Physical activity of any type (e.g. walking, jogging, swimming, badminton, tennis or similar activity) should be incorporated into the daily routine. Regular moderate intensity physical activity improves short- and long-term  glycaemic control with increased hepatic and peripheral insulin  sensitivity. This is not surprising as the exercising muscles use 7–20 times more glucose than non-exercising muscles.

Self Monitoring 

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important component in self-care behaviour in diabetes. SMBG has been recommended for people with diabetes in order to achieve a specific level of glycemic control and to prevent hypoglycemia. The goal of SMBG is to collect detailed information about blood glucose levels at many time points to enable maintenance of a more constant glucose level by more precise regimens. It can be used to aid in the adjustment of a therapeutic regimen in response to blood glucose values and to help individuals adjust their dietary intake, physical activity, and insulin doses to improve glycemic control on a day-to-day basis.

Taking Medication

Depending on what type of diabetes you have, you should be able to determine which medications you are taking and understand how your medications work. You can demonstration how to inject insulin or how diabetes pills work and when to take them. Effective drug therapy in combination with healthy lifestyle choices, can lower blood glucose levels, reduce the risk for diabetes complications and produce other clinical benefits.

The goal is for you to be knowledgeable about each medication, including its action, side effects, efficacy, toxicity, prescribed dosage, appropriate timing and frequency of administration, effect of missed and delayed doses and instructions for storage, travel and safety.

Problem Solving

An important objective of diabetes care is self-regulation skills. As a  patients you should assume responsibility for your own regimens, you need to have good problem-solving skills to cope with ongoing personal, social, and environmental barriers to adherence. Problem-solving strategies you would use to cope with a variety of situations potentially interfering with dietary, exercise, and glucose testing adherence.

Healthy Coping 

Health status and quality of life are affected by psychological and social factors. Psychological distress directly affects health and indirectly influences a person’s motivation to keep their diabetes in control. When motivation is dampened, the commitments required for effective self-care are difficult to maintain. When barriers seem insurmountable, good intentions alone cannot sustain the behavior. Coping becomes difficult and a person’s ability to self-manage their diabetes deteriorates.