Awareness of Diabetic Complications in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of awareness in type 2 diabetic patients regarding diabetic complications. Material and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out from November 2015- December2015 at out patient department of PNS Shifa hospital Karachi. Type 2 diabetic patients of more than 20 years of age of both genders were included in the study. A pre designed questionnaire was used to interview diabetic patients. Demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education, socioeconomic status, duration and treatment of diabetes along with the questions regarding diabetic complications.Data was stored and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Total of 150 patients were included in the study. Out of which 110(73.3%)were males and 40 (26.7%) were females. Mean age was 47.2 with standard deviation of 11.36. Awareness among these patients regarding diabetic complications was poor, only 38 (25.3%) patients were aware of diabetic complications. Knowledge in terms of gender was same in both males and females. Awareness was significantly higher in patients who were more than 65 years of age (p=.0001), graduates (p=.010), patients who had >50,000 Rs salary/ month (p=.0020), in patients who were diabetic for more than 20 years(p=.020) and who knew that they could control their blood sugar through diet,exercise and medications (p=0.002), Conclusion: This study demonstrated lack of knowledge of diabetic patients hence, endeavors should be made to promote and increase the awareness about diabetes and its complications through health education, not focusing only diabetic patients but should be delivered generally to every individual to prevent and manage diabetes and to reduce the morbidity and mortality resulting from its complications.