Knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus about their condition - a descriptive analysis

Patients’ knowledge about diabetes is a vital aspect of diabetes self-management. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to assess the knowledge of diabetes among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using self-administered questionnaires. Patients’ educational s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. K. Wijesinghe, K. D. Liyanarachchi, N. P. Somasundaram
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists 2016-02-01
Series:Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sjdem.sljol.info/articles/7298
Description
Summary:Patients’ knowledge about diabetes is a vital aspect of diabetes self-management. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to assess the knowledge of diabetes among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using self-administered questionnaires. Patients’ educational status, their awareness on symptoms of dysglycaemia and complications of diabetes as well as their knowledge on preventive strategies of diabetic complications were assessed. The results revealed that 70.6% of the 279 participants had a good or a very good overall knowledge about their condition and the complications associated with diabetes. However, significant gaps in knowledge were seen in the patients’ awareness of hypoglycaemic symptoms and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, patients with a poor education and patients with a low socioeconomic status were found to have a poorer knowledge of diabetes.
ISSN:2012-998X