Evaluation of Urinary Incontinence Status of Women With Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate urinary incontinence and its impact on quality of life in women diagnosed with diabetes. Conductedas a cross-sectional analytical study, it included 217 women with diabetes who were admitted to a public hospital. Data werecollected through face-to-face interviews using the Descriptive Information Form and the Incontinence Quality of Life Scale(I- QOL), and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Significant differences were found between I- QOL total andsubscale scores and various incontinence-related factors, including pain during urination, amount of urine leakage, presenceof incontinence, coping strategies for incontinence, difficulty urinating, urinary tract infections in the last 6 months, inconti-nence episodes in the last 30 days, incontinence while urinating, frequency of urinary incontinence, frequent urination, use ofincontinence-related medication, and pad use (p < 0.01). Overall, the findings indicate that urinary incontinence is a prevalenthealth issue among women with diabetes and significantly impairs their quality of life, suggesting that addressing incontinencewithin diabetes management programs may help improve patient well-being.1 | IntroductionDiabetes is a chronic and metabolic disease that occurs due toinsufficient insulin production or the inability of insulin to entercells [1]. This condition leads to uncontrolled increases in bloodsugar levels, resulting in various systemic complications andnegatively affecting individuals' quality of life Turkish Societyof Endocrinology and Metabolism [2]. The prevalence of diabe-tes is steadily increasing worldwide, posing a significant publichealth concern [3].According to the International Diabetes Federation [3], thenumber of people with diabetes is expected to reach 643million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. These projectionshighlight the urgent need for effective strategies in diabetesprevention and management. Turkey is among the countriesin Europe with the highest diabetes prevalence, with an esti-mated 6.6 million diabetic individuals according to the 2019IDF Diabetes Atlas. This number is expected to rise to 10 mil-lion by 2045, and Turkey is predicted to be among the top 10countries worldwide with the highest number of people livingwith diabetes [1].Diabetes is not only a metabolic disorder but also significantlyincreases individuals' susceptibility to infections [2]. The inci-dence of infections is higher in diabetic individuals comparedto non-diabetics, with urinary tract infections (UTIs) being oneof the most common infection types among diabetic patients [4].© 2025 British Association of Urological Nurses and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.