Self-regulation in individuals with type II diabetes.

A model for self-regulation of diabetes was tested which proposed that individuals monitor their disease status by comparing their current state with their standard of well-being. When a discrepancy is experienced and associated with a change in blood glucose, action is taken to relieve the symptom and thereby regulate blood glucose. Two variables of the self-regulatory process (symptom-associating and action-taking) were tested through semi-structured interviews of 173 subjects who had Type II diabetes. Most (85%) subjects associated their symptoms with a change in blood glucose levels. Of subjects who associated symptoms with elevated blood glucose, 77% took action; of subjects who associated symptoms with lowered blood glucose, 89% took action. Only sex and insulin use were related to symptom associating and action taking. There was no relation between metabolic control measured by glycosylated hemoglobin and symptom association and action taking.