Original Papers
Knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus about their condition - a descriptive analysis
Authors:
M. K. Wijesinghe ,
University of Birmingham, GB
About M. K.
Faculty of medicine
K. D. Liyanarachchi,
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK
About K. D.
Diabetes and Endocrine Unit
N. P. Somasundaram
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK
About N. P.
Diabetes and Endocrine Unit
Abstract
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.
How to Cite:
Wijesinghe, M.K., Liyanarachchi, K.D. and Somasundaram, N.P., 2016. Knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus about their condition - a descriptive analysis. Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, 6(1), pp.8–12. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sjdem.v6i1.7298
Published on
23 Feb 2016.
Peer Reviewed
Downloads
