Objective   To explore the regulatory role of health information literacy between diabetes knowledge reserve and self-management behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and to explore effective measures to promote the establishment of patients′self-management behavior.

  Methods   Diabetes Knowledge Test, Health Information Literacy Self-rating Scale and The Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities were used to investigate 352 T2DM patients. The scores of health information literacy, knowledge and self-management behavior of T2DM patients were recorded, and the correlation analysis of health information literacy, diabetes knowledge and self-management behavior was conducted.

  Results   The diabetic knowledge, health information literacy and diabetes self-management behavior scored (6.40±2.40), (14.41±2.91), and (3.53±1.24), respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that diabetic knowledge had a positive effect on self-management behavior (β=0.276). Health information literacy had a positive effect on self-management behavior (β=0.321). Health information literacy played a moderating role between the knowledge reserve level and self-management behavior of patients with T2DM (β=-0.180).

  Conclusion   Medical staff should take early measures to improve the level of diabetes knowledge and health information literacy of patients, and adopt personalized intervention methods based on differences in health information literacy at the same time to improve diabetic self-management behavior.