The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing with middle-aged and older adults being those at highest risk for developing this disease. Additionally, the demands of type 2 diabetes self-management can become difficult with age, which can result in poorer glycemic control. The current study examined the relations of health literacy, diabetes-related distress, and diabetes self-efficacy on diabetes self-management among 65 adults aged 40-66 with type 2 diabetes. Age was found to be positively associated with health literacy, but negatively associated with diabetes self-care activities. Additionally, only diabetes self-efficacy was found to be a unique contributor to diabetes self-care activities when controlling for age and gender. Lastly, body mass index was found to be negatively associated with diabetes self-efficacy and diabetes self-care activities. Future studies should consider using a longitudinal design to better inform interventions for those at risk for inadequate glycemic control (i.e., overweight/obese individuals, older adults, those with low self-efficacy)
