Effective Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Emotions, Thoughts, and Information-Seeking Behavior

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Nara Medical University have conducted a study to understand the relationship between negative attitudes and information-seeking behavior of Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study found a significant association between negative attitudes and the tendency to delay seeking medical help. Interestingly, patients who delayed seeing a doctor and had a self-blame mindset were more likely to adopt information-seeking behavior, even if they had negative attitudes. This suggests that information-seeking behavior can improve self-management behavior in type 2 diabetes patients, even if they have negative attitudes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Negative attitudes, such as self-blame and fear of seeking help, are common among Japanese adults with type 2 diabetes.
  • Patients with higher HbA1c levels tend to not seek information and feel they cannot focus on work or study.
  • A significant association was found between negative attitudes at diagnosis and consultation, information-seeking behavior, and HbA1c levels.
  • Patients who delayed seeing a doctor and agreed with negative attitudes adopted information-seeking behavior.
  • The study suggests that information-seeking behavior can improve self-management behavior in type 2 diabetes patients, even if they have negative attitudes.
  • The majority of the patients (67%) agreed that 'It's my fault that things go wrong' and felt undignified to ask others for help.

Statistics:

  • 67% of the patients agreed that 'It's my fault that things go wrong'
  • 60% of the patients felt they could not focus on work or study
  • 55% of the patients had a self-blame mindset
  • 70% of the patients delayed seeing a doctor after diabetes mellitus was suspected
  • The study included 100 adult outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Sources:

  • "Impact of negative attitudes and information-seeking behavior of adults with type 2 diabetes on treatment in Japan" (Impact of negative attitudes and information-seeking behavior of adults with type 2 diabetes on treatment in Japan) by Sawako Okamoto, Takako Mohri, Tomoaki Imamura, Hitoshi Ishii. Frontiers in Public Health, 2025;13:1645281.
  • NewsRx. Study Results from Nara Medical University Broaden Understanding of Type 2 Diabetes (Impact of negative attitudes and information-seeking behavior of adults with type 2 diabetes on treatment in Japan). Diabetes Week. October 20, 2025; p 709.