AIM: Changes and limitations in daily life have been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, a severe public health issue. Particularly in underdeveloped nations with limited resources, this may have an impact on disease management and health behaviours directly or indirectly. In this study, self-care practises of type 2 diabetes patients using insulin pens were compared before and after the COVID-19 pandemic
METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study involving 300 patients with type 2 diabetes who had been referred to a referral tertiary care diabetes clinic during 2018–2019. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Assessment questionnaire was used for the evaluation of 5 self-care activities.
RESULTS: Prior to the COVID-19 crisis and one year afterwards, the mean total self-care score was 37.63 and 26.14, respectively. Before the COVID-19 crisis, patients' levels of poor, moderate, and good self-care were, respectively, 27%, 54.3%, and 18.7%. However, these rates were 66.3%, 29%, and 4.7%, respectively, a year after the epidemic started. The mean score of five self-care behaviour variables varied significantly Between.
CONCLUSION: Our findings point to a decline in self-care practices among Iranians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly in light of the COVID-19 crisis, ongoing patient monitoring and the development of efficient educational programmes for these patients can help to prevent or delay the long-term effects of diabetes
