title: Effects of the behavior of elderly type 2 diabetic patients and their relatives as caregivers on diabetes follow-up parameters in Bolu, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their relatives as caregivers during the treatment period, and the effects on treatment success were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients aged 65 years and older and their relatives as caregivers was carried out. The questionnaire given to the participants consisted of three sections: the first section included questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics; the second section included questions on patient treatment, habits of drug use, lifestyle changes such as dietary habits; and the third section included anthropometric measurements and laboratory evaluations. The questionnaire given to the patients' relatives as caregivers consisted of questions regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and information regarding the patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study consisted of 115 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their relatives as caregivers. The average duration of diabetes was 12.14 ± 6.74 years. Body mass index was 30.2 ± 4.2 kg/m(2) , average hemoglobin A1c level was 7.09 ± 0.64%, and 40.1% of the patients lived with their partners only. As the frequency of physical exercise increased, hemoglobin A1c levels decreased to <7.5% (P < 0.05).The patients whose caregivers were college-educated or equivalent had a significantly low body mass index (P < 0.05). Patients who lived with their partners showed a significant correlation with lower hemoglobin A1c levels (<7.5%; P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to improve diabetic conditions in the elderly and to overcome obstacles to disease management, maximizing the cooperative efforts between the patients and their caregivers is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine, Izzet Baysal Family Health Center, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gucuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: behavior; diabetes; elderly; information; patient relatives