Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample (N = 221)

Gender

 Male

129 (59)

42 (64)

87 (56)

 Female

92 (41)

24 (36)

68 (44)

Age (years)

63 ± 11.89

65.3 ± 10.17

62 ± 12.44

 18–45

14 (6)

3 (4)

11 (7)

 46–60

56 (26)

17 (26)

39 (25)

 > 60

151 (68)

46 (70)

105 (68)

BMI

32.6 ± 6.44

32.4 ± 5.8

32.7 ± 6.7

Education

 Primary

20 (9)

11 (17)

9 (6)

 Secondary

126 (57)

39 (59)

87 (56)

 University

75 (34)

16 (24)

59 (38)

Employment status

 Active (employed)

81 (37)

18 (27)

63 (41)

 Inactive (unemployed/retired)

140 (63)

48 (73)

92 (59)

Time since diagnosis

 ≤ 1 year

15 (6)

3 (5)

12 (8)

 1–3 years

11 (5)

4 (6)

7 (5)

 3–5 years

30 (14)

6 (9)

24 (15)

 > 5 year

165 (75)

53 (80)

112 (72)

Diabetes therapy

 Medication no./day

2.5 ± 3.1

2.7 ± 4.5

2.4 ± 2.3

 Units of insulin/day

1.66 ± 1.8

1.65 ± 1.8

1.67 ± 1.8

 Diet needed

177 (80)

45 (68)

132 (85)

 Physical activity need

149 (67)

34 (51)

115(74)

HbA1c value*

7.2 ± 1.39

7.74 ± 1.85

7.02 ± 1.11

MMAS-8

6.86 ± 1.26

6.6 ± 1.36

6.97 ± 1.2

DSMQ “Sum scale”*

7.65 ± 1.23

7.13 ± 1.28

7.85 ± 1.15

 Subscale “Glucose management”*

7.9 ± 1.74

7.37 ± 1.76

8.2 ± 1.69

 Subscale “Dietary control”

6.97 ± 1.65

6.96 ± 1.84

6.9 ± 1.55

 Subscale “Physical activity”*

6.47 ± 2.59

5.9 ± 2.48

7.06 ± 2.58

 Subscale “Health-care use”*

8.84 ± 1.68

7.8 ± 1.93

9.25 ± 1.39