Introduction Diabetes mellitus may negatively impact individuals’ occupational balance. This study seeks to compare occupational balance in people with and without diabetes and also explore the biological and psychological factors associated with occupational balance in people with diabetes. Method This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted using simple non-probability sampling. Participants’ occupational balance was evaluated by the Life Balance Inventory. Blood samples were taken from those with diabetes and analyzed. Psychological distress was also evaluated in the people with diabetes using the Diabetes Distress Scale. Results A total of 160 individuals, including 80 people with diabetes and 80 people without diabetes, participated in this study. The mean occupational balance scores for people with and without diabetes were 2.56 and 2.61, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups in occupational balance. Distress was the only significant factor related to occupational balance in people with diabetes ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Distress was the only bio-psychological factor associated with occupational balance in people with diabetes. A higher level of distress is associated with lower occupational balance and also poor glycemic control in this population.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a risk factor for long-term complications and mortality in people with diabetes. Diabetes self-management can prevent the adverse effects of COVID-19. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between COVID-19-related personal, familial, and psychological factors and diabetes self-management. Methods: The research was conducted using the simple non-probability sampling method at the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Iran University of Medical Sciences. A total of 102 people with type-2 diabetes participated in the study. Their inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of type-2 diabetes for at least one year, an age of 30 to 65 years, literacy, and no personal or family history of COVID-19 for the past two months. The Diabetes Self-management Questionnaire assessed the participants' self-management behaviors. Their personal and family data were recorded in a personal information form. The Diabetes Distress Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire measured diabetes distress and depressive symptoms, respectively. COVID-19-related psychological factors were evaluated using the COVID-19-related Psychological Distress Scale, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results: The Pearson correlation test showed that the number of times one or their family members were infected or hospitalized due to COVID-19, diabetes distress, and depressive symptoms were negatively related to diabetes self-management. Doses of COVID-19 vaccine injection were also positively related to self-management and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and diabetes distress (P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed diabetes regimen and interpersonal distress, COVID-19-related psychological distress, and the number of one's family members with chronic disease as the predictors of diabetes self-management (adjusted R2 = 96%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: People with diabetes can improve their participation in self-management activities by taking care of themselves and their families against COVID-19 and controlling negative emotions. COVID-19 vaccination can reduce the depressive symptoms and diabetes distress in people with type-2 diabetes and facilitate their participation in self-management.

Introduction Occupational therapy practice framework provides a valuable structure for guiding clinical practice in occupational therapy based on the profession’s philosophical assumptions and areas of concern. This study aims to address the development and preliminary feasibility and acceptability evaluation of diabetes self-management intervention based on the framework and available literature. Method The research consisted of two phases. During the first phase, the research team conducted the relevant literature review, analyzed it deductively, and classified it in accordance with the concepts of the occupational therapy practice framework. Then, they modeled the intervention and formulated its components. In the second phase, they undertook the developed intervention on seven people with type-2 diabetes. The participants' attendance and their satisfaction with the program were evaluated to investigate its feasibility and acceptability. Results The research team developed an intervention named Occupational Therapy Diabetes Self-Management which focuses on the occupational nature of self-management and addresses various factors of its integrations with individuals’ daily lives. Feasibility and acceptability evaluation of the Occupational Therapy Diabetes Self-Management indicated that the participants' attendance and satisfaction with the program were 92.86% and 9.43 out of 10, respectively. Conclusion The Occupational Therapy Diabetes Self-Management is evidence-based, feasible, and an acceptable intervention to guide future research and clinical practice on occupational therapy.