# Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors and Glycemic Control Under China’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Action Program

## TL;DR

This study examines how diabetes self-management behaviors affect glycemic control in China, highlighting the need for targeted support for vulnerable groups.

## Contribution

The study identifies key groups with suboptimal diabetes management and quantifies the impact of specific self-management activities on glycemic control.

## Key findings

- Overall self-management behaviors had a mean score of 5.89, with 26.86% reporting good glycemic control.
- Dietary control had the greatest impact on glycemic control, while medication adherence had the least.
- Younger, rural, and financially disadvantaged individuals showed less benefit from self-management activities.

## Abstract

To investigate type 2 diabetes self-management behaviors and glycemic control under the impacts of COVID-19 legacy and Diabetes Prevention and Control Action, and explore the heterogeneous impacts of five self-management activities on glycemic control and how these impacts differ across key groups.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and September 2023 in hospitals and communities in China. Overall, 1817 adults with type 2 diabetes and normal cognitive and behavioral capacities completed a questionnaire regarding diabetes self-management behaviors and glycemic control. Ordinary least squares regression analyses were conducted.

Mean score of overall self-management behaviors was 5.89. About 26.86% reported good glycemic control. Among five self-management activities, medication adherence was the best (mean = 6.77) but glucose-monitoring adherence was the worst (mean = 5.18). Overall self-management behaviors and the five activities (coefficient = 0.031–0.146, all p < 0.001) all exerted positive impacts on glycemic control, with dietary control showing the greatest impact while medication adherence the least. Younger persons, rural persons, and persons with financial difficulties were key groups benefiting less from self-management.

Diabetes self-management behaviors and glycemic control were suboptimal. Customized health promotions should focus on key groups and addressing the deficiencies in self-management activities especially dietary control.