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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the role of working memory/executive function in self-care activities.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to understand the relationship between measures of severity of type 2 diabetes, working memory, executive function and self-care.
vascular changes that effect every organ system. The key to limiting these changes and promoting health in diabetics is through good glucose control. To obtain good glucose control, the individual has to engage in self-care that depend on cognitive processes such as working memory and executive function.
Working memory/executive function requires an individual to retain mindful information over a period of time, while simultaneously ignoring/neglecting other non-relevant information and retrieving older pertinent information to achieve a task. Diabetic individuals engage in complex self-care such as administering insulin and/or oral medications, monitoring blood glucose levels, maintaining a diabetic diet, exercise regularly and recognizing medications side effects/disease complications and knowing when to seek healthcare. If the diabetic’s working memory/executive function is impaired appropriate self-care may or may not occur in a less than optimal way resulting in complications.
In a cross sectional correlational study of 67 participants (mean age 63) the relationships between severity of type 2 diabetes, working memory/executive function and self-care was evaluated. Severity of diabetes, measured by number of medications, number of comorbities, and perception of health was significantly correlated to measures of working memory (Working Memory Index) and executive function (EXIT 25). There was also a significant correlation between measures of working memory and executive function and self-care (HgbA1C). This study provides foundational evidence to help understand the relationship between diabetes, working memory, executive function and self-care. This understanding is paramount as we look at improving the health of diabetics. Deficits in working memory and executive function can impact how a diabetic engages in self-care, thus possibly leading to poorer health outcomes. Understanding these relationships will help aid in future interventions aimed at improving the health of individuals with diabetes.