Self-Care Behavior Management And Blood Glucose Control Among Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Abstract
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to impaired insulin secretion and function. Controlling blood sugar levels is crucial to prevent complications, but in the elderly, suboptimal blood sugar control is still found due to low self-care behavior. This study aims to analyze the relationship between self-care behavior management and blood sugar control in elderly people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at the Limboto Community Health Center, Gorontalo Regency. This study used a quantitative, correlational analytical design with a cross-sectional approach . The study population was 1,094 people with a sample of 92 respondents selected using a purposive sampling technique . Self-care behavior was measured using the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire which includes diet management, physical activity, medication adherence, blood glucose monitoring, and foot care, while blood sugar control was measured using random blood sugar (GDS) examinations using a glucometer. The results showed that respondents with good self-care behavior management were 26 respondents (28.3%), sufficient category were 36 respondents (39.1%), and poor category were 30 respondents (32.6%). A total of 24 respondents (26.1%) had controlled blood sugar levels and 68 respondents (73.9%) had uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Chi-square analysis showed a significant relationship between self-care behavior management and blood sugar control (p=0.000; p<0.05). Respondents with better self-care behavior management tended to have better blood sugar control, with 21 of 26 respondents (80.8%) with good self-care having controlled blood sugar levels. These findings demonstrate the importance of strengthening self-care education and mentoring programs in primary health care to improve the ability of the elderly to manage diabetes so that blood sugar control can be maintained optimally.
