The role of psychological insulin resistance in diabetes self‐care management

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to identify the role of psychological insulin resistance in the relationship between diabetes self‐efficacy and diabetes self‐care management in people with diabetes over 65 years of age. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross‐sectional design was used. METHODS: Participants included 326 patients with type 2 diabetes who were over 65 years of age. Structural equation modelling was performed to estimate the direct and indirect effects of diabetes self‐efficacy on diabetes self‐care management when psychological insulin resistance was entered as a mediator. Data were collected from May 2015 to January 2017. RESULTS: Diabetes self‐efficacy (r = .53, p < .001) and psychological insulin resistance (r = .33, p < .001) were significantly associated with diabetes self‐care management, whereas a negative association was found between diabetes self‐efficacy and psychological insulin resistance (r = −.16, p < .001). When psychological insulin resistance was entered as a mediator, the association between diabetes self‐efficacy and diabetes self‐care management was attenuated. Therefore, psychological insulin resistance served as a mediator of diabetes self‐care management.