Health Literacy and Quality of Life in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between health literacy (HL) and quality of life (QoL) in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Method This study was conducted between February 2020 and May 2020 at the University of Health Sciences Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, in Turkey. A total of 155 patients with type 1 DM between the ages of 18-65 were included in the study. QoL was evaluated with the Audit of Diabetes Dependent QoL questionnaire and HL was evaluated with the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) questionnaire and obtained results were compared. Results The weighted impact score for the overall QoL scale was higher for patients who did not have complications than those with complications (p=0.004). Retinopathy and nephropathy were higher in the group with low HL (p=<0.001; p=0.032; p=0.012, respectively). The weighted impact score for the overall QoL scale was lower in married individuals (p=0.040) and it was higher for high school and above education levels than those with lower education levels (p=0.004). The sex life weighted impact score was higher in the group with DM less than 10 years (p=0.045). Conclusion Patients with high HL status are more adaptable to their physician's recommendations, less frequent complications will occur in these patients and the QoL of the patients will be better in the absence of complications.