Self‐perception of glycemic control among Japanese type 2 diabetic patients: accuracy of patient perception and characteristics of patients with misperception

Aims

Some diabetic patients, despite reporting a good perception of their glycemic control, actually show poor control and this misperception might well hinder successful diabetes management. This study aimed to assess patients'' self‐perception of glycemic control and to clarify factors associated with misperception of glycemic control status.

Methods

Baseline data from a hospital‐based prospective cohort of 519 type 2 diabetic patients were analyzed. Self‐perception of glycemic control and other items, including sociodemographic factors and blood test data, were determined from a self‐administered questionnaire and medical records. Factors associated with misperception were examined by age group (elderly aged ≥ 65 years] vs non‐elderly aged < 65 years]) using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among poorly controlled patients, misperception was higher in the elderly (glycated hemoglobin HbA_1c] 7.4–8.3, 55.1%; HbA_1c >8.4, 44.8%) than in the non‐elderly (HbA_1c 7.4–8.3, 20.0%; HbA_1c >8.4, 18.9%). The factors significantly associated with misperception were as follows: high lifestyle regimen adherence in both age groups (non‐elderly group odds ratio OR] 5.23; elderly group OR 5.15, respectively); high family support (OR = 7.32), failure to achieve blood pressure control (OR = 6.94) and having diabetic complications (OR = 0.06) among the non‐elderly; and long duration of diabetes (OR = 4.06) among the elderly.

Conclusions

For better management of diabetes, physicians should pay attention to the patient characteristics associated with misperception among uncontrolled diabetic patients, particularly among those who are elderly.