Self-management in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease is associated with incremental benefit in HRQOL

Aims: There is insufficient and inconsistent data regarding the association between diabetes self-management, the process of facilitating the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with diabetes and moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). 

Methods: In a cross sectional study, participation in diabetes self-management assessed by the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire and HRQOL was examined in 308 patients with diabetes and CKD (stages 3 to 5) recruited from outpatient diabetes and renal clinics of 4 public tertiary hospitals. Associations were examined by Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression after controlling for potential confounders. An examination of trend across the levels of patient participation in self-management was assessed using a non-parametric test for trend. 

Results: The median age and interquartile range (IQR) of patients were 68 and 14.8. years, respectively with 59% of the population being over 65. years old and 69.5% male. The median durations of diabetes and CKD were 18. years (IQR-17) and 5. years (IQR-8) respectively. General diet, exercise and medication taking were positively associated with at least one HRQOL subscale (all . p < 0.05) but diabetes specific diet, blood sugar testing and foot checking were not. As levels of participation in self-management activities increased there was a graded increase in mean HRQOL scores across all subscales (p for trend <. 0.05).

Conclusions: In people with diabetes and moderate to severe CKD, participation in diabetes self-management activities, particularly those focused on general diet, exercise and medication taking, was associated with higher HRQOL.