Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between self-management (dietary control & glucose management), illness perception, and death anxiety in the diabetic patient.
Methodology: This study took a sample of 200 diabetic patients through the Purposive sampling technique. The diabetic self-management scale, Arabic scale of death anxiety, and brief illness perception questionnaire were administered.
Results: Correlation analysis showed that all variables were interrelated in the estimated way (p< .01); illness perception and death anxiety were positively correlated whereas diabetic self-management and its subscales were negatively correlated with illness perception and death anxiety. Mediation analysis indicated the significant mediating effect of illness perception between self-management (glucose management & dietary control) and death anxiety.
Conclusion: Poor self-management does not directly cause death anxiety among diabetic patients, it is the negative illness perception that causes death anxiety. The findings have implications for diabetic patients.

Key words: Diabetes, self-management, illness perception, death anxiety.