Comparison of Glycemic Control Indicators in Patients with Type II Diabetes in Two Alexithymiac and Non-alexithymia Groups

Diabetes is a multi-factorial chronic disease that has no absolute cure and requires continuous self-care. Emotional disorders such as alexithymia have been considered as one of the major barriers to self-care behaviors in diabetes control. This study aimed to compare glycemic control indicators in patients with type II diabetes in two alexithymic and non-alexithymic groups. This was a cross-sectional study with a study sample of 80 (47 females and 33 males, aged 40 to 60 years) type 2 diabetic out-patients who referred to clinics of the Labbafinejad hospital in 2012. Data collected, using 3 questionnaires included information on demographic, anthropometric and clinical characteristics, a summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scales. Blood tests were performed to obtain HbA1c. Pearson's correlation coefficients showed alexithymia has a significant negative assoc­iation with self-care activities (-0.49) and a significant positive association with HbA1c levels (0.44). Results of t-test indicated that self-care activities in alexithymic group were significantly lesser than the non-alexithymic one and their glycated haemoglobin was higher than this group. Alexithymia in patients with type II diabetes limits their ability in their self-care activities, resulting in higher levels of glycated haemoglobin in these patients, compared to the non-alexithymic group, results which could initiate related research on potential emotional problems in patients with type 2 diabetes and enhance their diabetes control.