Lentera Perawat
Vol. 7 No. 4 (2026): October - December

The relationship between diabetes related distress and self-care on the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

Nefrita Fradina Putri (Universitas Telogorejo Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia)
Ismonah Ismonah (Universitas Telogorejo Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia)
Dwi Yogo Budi Prabowo (Universitas Telogorejo Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
05 Oct 2026

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia that may lead to various complications and reduced quality of life. Psychological factors, particularly diabetes-related distress, and behavioral factors such as self-care play important roles in influencing patients' quality of life. Objective: To examine the relationship between diabetes-related distress and self-care with the quality of life among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Bulu Lor Primary Health Center, Semarang, Indonesia. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 75 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected in April 2025 using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), and Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation test. Results: Most respondents were aged ≥60 years (85.3%), female (65.3%), and had completed primary school education (34.7%). Diabetes-related distress was moderately and negatively correlated with quality of life (r = −0.432; p < 0.001), indicating that higher diabetes-related distress was associated with lower quality of life. Self-care showed a moderate positive correlation with quality of life (r = 0.476; p < 0.001), indicating that better self-care was associated with higher quality of life. Conclusion: Higher diabetes-related distress was moderately associated with lower quality of life, whereas better self-care was moderately associated with higher quality of life among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Because this study employed a cross-sectional design and unadjusted bivariate analysis, causal relationships and independent associations cannot be established.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

lenteraperawat

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Nursing Public Health

Description

Lentera Perawat is intended to be the journal for publishing articles reporting the results of research on Health Science field especially Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health as well as with their development through interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary ...