2Kars Devlet Hastanesi İç Hastalıkları Uzmanı KARS Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptation of elderly diabetic patients to activities of daily life and their self-care abilities.
Materials and Method: This study was a descriptive survey conducted 1068 patients with Type 2 diabetes who applied to the Internal Medicine Polyclinic of Kars State Hospital between March 2012 and December 2013. The sample group was composed of 1045 patients aged 60 and older, who agreed to participate in the study, had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes for at least 1 year, and were able to communicate. A Personal Information Form, Self-Care Ability Scale, and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living index were used as data collection tools.
Results: We found that 27.3% of patients had a deficiency in seeing, 70.8% hearing, 56.9% moving, and 74.5% tasting; 63.4% used an instrument/prosthesis/device and 74.5% used a walking stick. Evaluating the distribution of patients' states of dependence according to their physical deficiency, it was determined that while patients who had problems with seeing, hearing, moving, and tasting were not able to fulfill their activities of daily life independently, those using auxiliary instruments had difficulty in fulfilling their activities of daily life independently.
Conclusion: Patients experienced deficiencies in activities of daily life, tried to complement their physical deficiencies through the use of auxiliary instruments, and also had low mean scores for self-care ability.
Keywords : Diabetes Mellitus; Activities of Daily Living; Self Care