This study aimed to determine the level of perception of insulin and diabetes symptom management of patients with Type 2 diabetes who received inpatient treatment in intensive care.
Material and Method:This descriptive study was conducted in the Internal Medicine and Anesthesia Intensive Care units of a state hospital during the period of December 01, 2020 and March 31, 2021. The sample of the study was composed of 100 voluntary patients who used insulin. Research data were collected via the Patient Introduction Form, Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire and the Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale. Written permission was obtained from ethics committee and patients. The data analysis consisted of arithmetic mean, number, percentage, Spearman's Correlation, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests.
Results:The average age of the patients was 44.57±14.8, 52% were female, 72% were single. The mean duration of insulin use was 2.8±1.17 years. Patients' Insulin Treatment Appraisal positive and negative item subscale mean scores were 12.56±3.43 and 48.18±12.09, respectively. Patients' mean Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire total score was 4.07±1.74 (range: 0.62-8.75). There was a significant difference between the marital status, education level, existence of chronic disease and complications, regular use of insulin and Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire and Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale scores.
Conclusion:Patients have a high negative perception towards insulin use and their diabetes self-management is below the average. There was a high level of negative correlation between patients' negative insulin perception and glucose management and diet control sub-dimensions of their diabetes self-management. Accordingly, it is recommended to plan individual or group trainings in order to raise awareness about diabetes self management and patients' insulin treatment.