The association between health literacy and diabetes self-management among adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Objective This study examined the association between health literacy and diabetes self-management among adolescents with type 1 diabetes in South Khorasan Province, Eastern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study included 140 adolescents aged 10–18 years with type 1 diabetes, recruited through census sampling from all adolescents aged 10–18 years with type 1 diabetes who had active records in the SIB electronic health system in South Khorasan Province. data were collected using the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) and the Adolescent Self-Management and Independence in Diabetes (A-SMOD) questionnaires. Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman correlation analyses were performed. Results The mean health literacy score was 135.79 ± 28.40 (range: 44–220), corresponding to the marginal level per HELMA classification. The mean diabetes self-management score was 133.36 ± 20.22 (range: 48–192). No significant gender differences were observed ( p > 0.05). Diabetes self-management scores were significantly higher in the 16–18 age group (144.76 ± 18.45; p < 0.001). Adolescents diagnosed within the past three years had lower diabetes self-management scores (127.02 ± 18.79; p < 0.001). Higher parental education and having a family member with diabetes were associated with better health literacy and diabetes self-management scores ( p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was found between health literacy and diabetes self-management (Spearman r = 0.76, p < 0.001). Conclusion Health literacy was at a marginal level and was strongly associated with diabetes self-management in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Literacy-based educational interventions incorporating family support may improve self-management outcomes in this population.