Changes in self-care behaviors of Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes using insulin pens during COVID-19 pandemic

AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic as a serious public health concern has been accompanied with changes and restrictions in everyday life. This can affect directly or indirectly health behaviors and disease management, particularly in developing countries with low resources. This study aimed to compare self-care behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes using insulin pens before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study involving 300 patients with type 2 diabetes who had been referred to a referral tertiary care diabetes clinic during 2018–2019. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Assessment (SDSCA) questionnaire was used for the evaluation of 5 self-care activities. RESULTS: The mean total self-care score before and one year after the onset of the COVID-19 crisis was 37.63 (SD, 10.89) and 26.14 (SD, 10.99), respectively. Before the COVID-19 crisis, 27%, 54.3%, and 18.7% of patients had poor, moderate, and good self-care, respectively. One year after the onset of the epidemic, however, these rates were 66.3%, 29%, and 4.7%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean score of 5 indices of self-care behaviors before and after the COVID-19 crisis (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the deterioration of self-care behaviors amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in an Iranian population. Continuous follow-up of patients with diabetes and the design of effective educational programs for these patient can prevent or delay the long-term consequences of diabetes, especially in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.