This study aimed to determine the literacy level on diabetes and self-management behavior among type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in Zamboanga City. It also assesses the correlation between diabetes literacy level and self-management behavior among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Zamboanga City. It is a cross-sectional study which utilized the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire, Comprehension, Diabetes Numeracy test, and Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities. Respondents of the study were Type 2 DM patients diagnosed for at least 1 year, ages 18 years old and above and those who can converse well. Despite of review materials and health education being done in clinics and health center. Type 2 DM still ranked 8th among ten leading mortality rate in the Philippines. In 2005, Safeer’s cross-sectional observational study showed that patients with diabetes and inadequate health literacy have poorer glycemic control and higher levels of retinopathy than patients with adequate literacy skills. Moreover, another study reported that adherence to treatment is very poor due to poor attitude towards the disease and poor health literacy. Result of the study showed, forty eight percent (48%) of the respondents has marginal diabetes literacy level, (45%) has adequate, while (7%) has inadequate diabetes literacy. Adequate self-management behavior was seen among the parameters concerning diet and compliance to medication whereas inadequate self-management behavior was seen with regards to glucose monitoring and exercise. There was poor association between diabetes literacy level and self-management behavior among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Zamboanga City. This suggests that type 2 DM patients in Zamboanga City are aware and understand their disease, they know about the symptoms, the need to exercise, diet and compliance with their medication to control their blood sugar level. They are able to derive meaning from different forms of communication (leaflet) and able to identify and make sense of quantitative data. However, their literacy has poor association with their self-management behavior. They are able to control their diet, take medications, do physical activity but with regards to glucose monitoring, majority of them does not monitor their blood sugar. Factors that influenced the result were, high educational attainment, seek consult in private hospital and good economic status. Based on the result of the study it can be concluded that type 2 DM patients in Zamboanga City has marginal diabetes literacy. Adequate self-management behavior with regards to diet and compliance to medication. Lastly, diabetes literacy level is not associated with self-management behavior among type 2 DM patients in Zamboanga

Keyword: National voluntary blood services program