, Jekaterina Šteinmiller , Toomas Toomsoo, Anna-Liisa Jõgi Effective coping with type 2 diabetes is often hindered by insufficient understanding of the disease, its management, associated comorbidities, complications, and mental health challenges. This study aims to identify barriers to adaptation to type 2 diabetes, examine their associations with complications, and characterize patient adaptation profiles to inform tailored management strategies. A cross-sectional sample of 151 outpatients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes was analyzed. Data were collected using the diabetes obstacles questionnaire-30 and analyzed using statistical methods, including latent profile analysis, to identify distinct adaptation profiles and their association with clinical and demographic factors.
The mean age at disease onset was 50.39 years (standard deviation (SD) = 11.02), with an average body mass index (BMI) of 32.90 (SD = 6.64) and a mean glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 7.7% (SD = 1.30). Hypertension (78.1%), retinopathy (33.1%), and neuropathy (22.5%) were the most common complications. Patients expressed fear of diagnosis (mean (M) = 2.99, SD = 1.28), high blood sugar readings (M = 3.19, SD = 1.23), and insulin therapy (M = 3.38, SD = 1.30), along with low motivation for physical activity (M = 3.04, SD = 1.30). Four distinct adaptation profiles were identified, influenced by information needs, social support, and the presence of complications such as neuropathy, which significantly affected adaptation. Adaptation to type 2 diabetes varies significantly across patients, influenced by clinical, psychological, and social factors. Identifying and addressing individual barriers – including the need for tailored education, social support, and comorbidity management – is critical. Personalized medicine approaches that integrate these factors can enhance disease adaptation and improve outcomes, emphasizing the need for holistic and patient-centered care in diabetes management.
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