Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences · Published 2026-06-30 · DOI 10.18502/sjms.v21i2.20224
Kadhim Laydh Abdulhamza, Haider Mohammed Majeed
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal relationship between physical activity and self-management behaviors, and their combined impact on glycemic control among patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted at Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital, involving 120 diabetic patients selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected at three time points using validated tools to assess physical activity levels (IPAQ), Self-Management Behaviors, and glycemic control (HbA1c). Demographic and clinical variables were also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 to examine associations and changes over time. Results: The longitudinal study followed 120 patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus over three observation periods. Most participants were middle-aged and living with type 2 diabetes. Over time, physical activity levels showed a statistically significant improvement, with a marked shift from low to high activity categories (highly significant in the third observation of physical activity, P < 0.001; and in the third observation of self-management behaviors, P < 0.000). In contrast, self-management behaviors declined, as evidenced by decreasing DSMQ scores and a transition from “Perfect” to “Inadequate” self-care levels. Simultaneously, HbA1c values increased significantly across all time points (the three latest HbA1c observations; P < 0.000), indicating progressive deterioration in glycemic control despite improvements in physical activity. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that while physical activity improved over time, declining self-management behaviors were linked to worsening glycemic control. These results emphasize the need for integrated lifestyle interventions to support long-term diabetes management.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →
Abdulhamza, K., Majeed, H. (2026). Association Between Physical Activity and Self-management Behaviors and Its Effects on Glycemic Control Among Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Longitudinal Design Study. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/sjms.v21i2.20224