Illness perceptions and self-care behaviours in the first years of living with type 2 diabetes; does the presence of complications matter?
OBJECTIVE
To assess illness perceptions, self-care behaviours and their relationship in recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without diabetes-related complications.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey among 192 recently diagnosed T2DM patients of whom 23% reported the presence of diabetes-related complications. Illness perceptions and self-care were assessed by the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and the revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) measure.


RESULTS
Generally, participating patients perceived T2DM as a chronic, but relatively controllable condition with minor consequences. In the presence of complications, however, T2DM was perceived as more unpredictable with more (serious) consequences and less controllable by self-care or medical treatment. Furthermore, engagement in exercise and foot care was reported more often by patients with complications. Self-care was related to certain illness perception dimensions, and interactions between perceptions and complications were found.


CONCLUSIONS
T2DM patients in the first years of their illness are often recommended to make lifestyle changes in the absence of noticeable diabetes-related symptoms or complaints. As many T2DM patients do not seem to perceive their condition to be serious and postpone lifestyle changes until diabetes-related complications appear, a major challenge for professionals is to convince asymptomatic patients of the importance of self-care.
a NIVEL, The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Anne L
AL
van Puffelen
a NIVEL, The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Monique J W M
MJ
Heijmans
a NIVEL, The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Mieke
M
Rijken
b Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Guy E H M
GE
Rutten
c Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine , EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
Giel
G
Nijpels
a NIVEL, The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research , Utrecht , The Netherlands.|c Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine , EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
François G
FG
Schellevis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
complications; illness perceptions; self-care; type 2 diabetes mellitus