The Effect of Self-Care Training on Blood Sugar Control, HbA1C Level, and Life Quality of Diabetic Patients in Birjand, East of Iran: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

BACKGROUND: As one of the most important public health problems worldwide, diabetes is closely linked with patients' lifestyles. The optimal approach to treating diabetes is to prevent it. Our aim in this study was to assess the impact of self-care behaviors on quality of life, blood sugar control, and HbA1C level in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial examined 100 diabetic women referred to Ghadir Comprehensive Health Center in Birjand in 2019. A 5 cc fasting blood sample was taken from each participant. The participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. For the experimental group, a 10-session self-care training workshop was held. Baseline and postintervention fasting blood glucose, HbA1C level, and life quality of the two groups were assessed and compared six months after the intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS (16). RESULTS: In the experimental group, the mean serum HbA1C level decreased from the baseline 7.5 ± 1.5 to 6.3 ± 1.0 (P < 0.001). Fasting blood sugar in the intervention group decreased from 136.3 ± 43.5 to 127.3 ± 22.9, but the reduction was not significant (P=0.322). The mean scores of the quality of life (P=0.002) and the visual analogue scale (P < 0.001P < 0.001) in the experimental group increased significantly compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Self-care training for diabetic women had positive effects on both life quality and disease control. Therefore, it is recommended that self-care training be delivered and taken more seriously by physicians and health care providers in addition to drug therapy.