title: Specific cognitive abilities are associated with diabetes self-management behavior among patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with diabetes differ in compliance to diabetes self-management which influences their long-term health. Psychological factors, namely depression and cognitive abilities, are associated with diabetes self-management behavior. The aim of the study was to identify independent association of particular cognitive functions with diabetes self-management.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross sectional study 98 adults with type 2 diabetes attending Diabetes Outpatient Clinic were examined using the measures of diabetes self-management (Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) measure), depression (Hamilton Depression Inventory (HDI)), diabetes distress (Problem Areas In Diabetes scale (PAID)), and the neuropsychological battery of tests for assessment of cognitive functions. Sociodemographic and diabetes-related data were collected. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify and evaluate the predictors of diabetes self-management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specific cognitive functions, namely immediate memory, visuospatial/constructional abilities, attention, and specific executive functions (planning and problem solving) were significantly associated with diabetes self-management. Among cognitive factors, planning and problem solving abilities were strongest predictors; furthermore, in a multivariate regression their association was independent from depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific cognitive abilities, particularly planning and problem solving, play an independent role in diabetes self-management behaviors. Assessing patients' cognitive abilities may be of value for adjusting self-management education and treatment regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Medical Centre Ljubljana-University Children's Hospital, Bohoričeva 20, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia. simona.primozic@kclj.si
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Primožič
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tavčar
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avbelj
authors.forename: Mojca Zvezdana
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Dernovšek
authors.forename: Maja Ravnik
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oblak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*