Enhancing self-care management among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Effective self-care management is essential for optimizing blood glucose control and preventing complications in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This study explores the mediating roles of self-efficacy and illness perception in the relationship between social support and health literacy, with self-care management among women with T2DM. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 330 female patients recruited through multistage sampling from nine health clinics in Malaysia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between these factors. The results showed that self-efficacy and illness perception significantly enhanced the influence of social support and health literacy on diabetes self-care management. During analysis, SEM model demonstrated a good fit (c2/df = 3.447, CFI = 0.932, TLI = 0.913, RMSEA = 0.086). Illness perception had the strongest direct effect on self-care management (standardized regression value = 0.69), followed by self-efficacy (standardized regression value = 0.31). These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions in diabetes self-management programs, such as cognitive and behavioral strategies to improve self-efficacy; and patient-centered education to reshape illness perceptions. Integrating psychosocial support into diabetes care policies can also enhance self-care behaviors and improve health outcomes for women with T2DM, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach in diabetes management.