Factors Predicting Glycemic Control Behaviors among Patients with Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus in Samutprakarn Province

Abstract

Poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes can lead to serious complications and significantly impact their quality of life. This study aimed to identify factors that predict glycemic control behavior among patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in Samutprakarn province. The sample included 153 diabetic patients, selected using a simple random sampling method. Health literacy and health behaviors among diabetic patients were measured through questionnaires, which were found to have reliability coefficients of .84 and .70 using Cronbach’s alpha. Statistical methods employed in the analysis included percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analysis. Among the participants, 108 were women, representing 70.6% of the sample. The most common age range was 61-70 years, accounting for 39.9% of the respondents. In terms of diabetes duration, 54.9% of participants had been living with the condition for 10-20 years. Regarding blood sugar levels, 51% of the participants had levels ranging from 101 to 160 mg/dL. The study found that effective communication about diabetes, understanding media literacy related to diabetes, and self-management for blood sugar control were key predictors of glycemic control behavior among patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Together, these factors accounted for approximately 33% of the observed variance in glycemic control behavior. Specifically, the influences were as follows: effective communication about diabetes, understanding media literacy related to diabetes, and self-management for blood sugar control. These findings suggest that all three factors can be utilized to develop a program aimed at enhancing knowledge and promoting activities that encourage behavioral adjustments for better blood sugar control in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.