Julienne K Kirk1, Thomas A Arcury2, Edward Ip3, Ronny A Bell4, Santiago Saldana3, Ha T Nguyen2, Sara A Quandt4. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States of America. Electronic address: jkirk@wfubmc.edu. 2. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States of America. 3. Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States of America. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States of America.
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate the demographic and health correlates of reporting diabetes symptoms, and the relationship between diabetes symptoms and self-management behaviors in rural older adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional interviews were conducted with 489 African American, American Indian, and white female and male adults 60 years and older. Participants with diabetes were recruited from eight North Carolina counties. Participants completed the 34-item Diabetes Symptom Checklist (DSC). Associations of demographic and health characteristics with reported symptoms were evaluated. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the associations of DSC scores and diabetes self-management. RESULTS: Participants had low scores on the DSC. They largely practiced appropriate diabetes self-management behaviors (self-foot checks, fruit and vegetable consumption, and self-monitoring blood glucose). Correlates of DSC included women having higher scores for hypoglycemia, psychological total, and fatigue dimensions. Neuropathic pain and vision dimensions were significantly associated with educational attainment. Most DSC dimensions were associated with ethnicity or economic status. Taking oral diabetes medicine was correlated with hyperglycemia; insulin use was associated with most DSC dimensions. HbA1c was not associated with any DSC dimension; diabetes duration >10 years was correlated with all dimensions except neuropathic pain and vision. Higher levels of psychological fatigue were significantly associated with fewer self-management behaviors. DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSIONS: Demographic and health characteristics are associated with reported symptoms. Fatigue is a symptom negatively associated with diabetes self-management behavior in older adults. Health care providers are uniquely positioned to assess patient symptoms and potential relationships with successful diabetes management.
AIMS: To evaluate the demographic and health correlates of reporting diabetes symptoms, and the relationship between diabetes symptoms and self-management behaviors in rural older adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional interviews were conducted with 489 African American, American Indian, and white female and male adults 60 years and older. Participants with diabetes were recruited from eight North Carolina counties. Participants completed the 34-item Diabetes Symptom Checklist (DSC). Associations of demographic and health characteristics with reported symptoms were evaluated. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the associations of DSC scores and diabetes self-management. RESULTS:Participants had low scores on the DSC. They largely practiced appropriate diabetes self-management behaviors (self-foot checks, fruit and vegetable consumption, and self-monitoring blood glucose). Correlates of DSC included women having higher scores for hypoglycemia, psychological total, and fatigue dimensions. Neuropathic pain and vision dimensions were significantly associated with educational attainment. Most DSC dimensions were associated with ethnicity or economic status. Taking oral diabetes medicine was correlated with hyperglycemia; insulin use was associated with most DSC dimensions. HbA1c was not associated with any DSC dimension; diabetes duration >10 years was correlated with all dimensions except neuropathic pain and vision. Higher levels of psychological fatigue were significantly associated with fewer self-management behaviors. DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSIONS: Demographic and health characteristics are associated with reported symptoms. Fatigue is a symptom negatively associated with diabetes self-management behavior in older adults. Health care providers are uniquely positioned to assess patient symptoms and potential relationships with successful diabetes management.
Authors: Ronny A Bell; Shannon L Smith; Thomas A Arcury; Beverly M Snively; Jeanette M Stafford; Sara A Quandt Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 19.112
Authors: Julienne K Kirk; Joseph G Grzywacz; Christine Chapman; Thomas A Arcury; Ronny A Bell; Edward H Ip; Sara A Quandt Journal: Diabetes Educ Date: 2011-03-17 Impact factor: 2.140
Authors: Sara A Quandt; Edward H Ip; Julienne K Kirk; Santiago Saldana; Shyh-Huei Chen; Ha Nguyen; Ronny A Bell; Thomas A Arcury Journal: Diabetes Educ Date: 2013-10-25 Impact factor: 2.140
Authors: Rebecca L Sudore; Andrew J Karter; Elbert S Huang; Howard H Moffet; Neda Laiteerapong; Yael Schenker; Alyce Adams; Rachel A Whitmer; Jennifer Y Liu; Yinghui Miao; Priya M John; Dean Schillinger Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2012-08-02 Impact factor: 5.128