Subjective Assessment of Diabetes Self-Care Correlates with Perceived Glycemic Control but not with Actual Glycemic Control.
BACKGROUND
We investigated whether patients' perceived glycemic control and self-reported diabetes self-care correlated with their actual glycemic control.


METHODS
A survey was administered among patients with diabetes mellitus at an outpatient clinic with structured self-report questionnaires regarding perceived glycemic control and diabetes self-management. Actual glycemic control was defined as a change in glycated hemoglobin (A1C) or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) since the last clinic visit.


RESULTS
Patients who perceived their glycemic control as "improved" actually showed a mild but significant decrease in the mean A1C (-0.1%, P=0.02), and those who perceived glycemic control as "aggravated" had a significant increase in the mean FPG (10.5 mg/dL or 0.59 mmol/L, P=0.04) compared to the "stationary" group. However, one-half of patients falsely predicted their actual glycemic control status. Subjective assessment of diabetes self-care efforts, such as adherence to a diet regimen or physical activity, correlated positively with perceived glycemic control but showed no association with actual glycemic control.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients should be encouraged to assess and monitor diabetes self-care more objectively to motivate behavioral modifications and improve their actual glycemic control.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Hun
JH
Ohn
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ju Hee
JH
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Shil
ES
Hong
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Bo Kyung
BK
Koo
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Wan
SW
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ka Hee
KH
Yi
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Internal Medicine, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Min Kyong
MK
Moon
Actual glycemic control; Diabetes self-care; Perceived glycemic control