Self-care behaviors of Filipino-American adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the diabetes self-care behaviors of Filipino-American (FA) adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).


METHODS
The Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities-Revised and Expanded measure was administered to 192 (74 males and 118 females) FA adult immigrants with type 2 DM.


RESULTS
Older FAs (> or =65 years), females, those who were older when they immigrated, and participants diagnosed with type 2 DM longer were more likely to follow recommended medication regimens. Younger FAs (<65 years) and participants diagnosed with type 2 DM for shorter duration of time were less likely to perform blood glucose testing. Most FAs reported following their eating plans; however, those who lived in the United States (US) longer followed healthful eating plans. Likewise, females reported eating five or more servings of fruits and/or vegetables daily. Moreover, older FAs reported evenly spacing carbohydrate intake everyday. Furthermore, older participants, those with less education, participants who were older when they immigrated, and those older when diagnosed with type 2 DM ate fewer foods high in fats. As to physical activity, FA males and participants with higher education exercised more frequently.


CONCLUSIONS
Younger FAs were less likely to perform optimum type 2 DM self-care behaviors pertaining to diet, medication taking, and blood glucose testing compared to their older counterparts. This finding suggests an increased risk for type 2 DM comorbidities and/or complications in younger FAs, which may require more intensive treatments in later years.
Jordan
Deovina N
DN
Department of Nursing, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7404, USA. dnjordan@ucla.edu
Jordan
James L
JL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires