The relations of diet adherence (DA) and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) to metabolic control, as measured with glycosylated
hemoglobin A
10(GHbA
10), and correlates of self-care were examined among a type 1 diabetic sample (
n = 423). The Health Belief Model (HBM), supplemented by other factors (locus of control, self-efficacy, health value, and
social support), was used as a theoretical model. In multiple regression analyses both DA(
p> .001) and SMBG (
p > .001) were related to GHbA
10. Theoretically derived path models for HBM (estimated by LFSREL) required modifications. DA showed strong associations with
diabetes related social support (
p > .001) and net benefits of DA (
p > .001). SMBG showed strong associations with self-efficacy in SMBG (
p > .001) and net benefits of SMBG (
p > .001). The revised models explained 14% and 21% of the variation in DA and SMBG, respectively. The results suggest that
although perceived net benefits are important determinants of both SMBG and DA, DA is also related to diabetes support, whereas
SMBG is more strongly related to perceived self-efficacy. Thus self-care regimen should he planned individually for diabetic
patients.
Key words type 1 diabetes mellitus - glycosylated haemoglobin (GHbA10) - self-care - health belief model - diabetes-related control beliefs - social support