Abstract
BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) requires effective self-care behaviors and social support to manage the condition and prevent complications. This study aimed to examine the influence of demographic characteristics and perceived social support on diabetes self-management behaviors in individuals with T2DM. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 300 T2DM patients using validated questionnaires from April to May 2023. Self-care behaviors were assessed using a Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities-Arabic (SDSCA-Arabic), while perceived social support was measured using a Diabetes Care Profile (DCP) using an Arabic Social Support subscale. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed to examine the relationships and predictors of self-care behaviors. RESULTS: Patients exhibited varying levels of self-care behaviors, with exercise and blood sugar testing being the most frequently reported activities. Additionally, the findings revealed that health education on self-examining regarding the feet, exercising, comorbidities, perceived social support, medical insurance, and gender were significant predictors of diabetes self-management behaviors. These factors collectively accounted for 21.2% of the variance in self-management behavior levels. Specifically, health education on self-examining regarding the feet (β = -0.286, p = 0.001) and exercising (β = -0.175, p = 0.001) showed a negative association, while perceived social support (β = 0.235, p = 0.001) demonstrated a positive association with self-management behaviors. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of comprehensive health education programs that address multiple aspects of diabetes management and the role of social support in fostering better self-management behaviors. It also emphasizes the influence of demographic factors on self-management, with individuals with higher comorbidities exhibiting better self-management behaviors and those with medical insurance showing poorer self-management behaviors. These findings have implications for nursing practice, suggesting the need for tailored interventions, effective education, and support networks to enhance self-management behaviors in T2DM patients.