Frequency and Awareness of Diabetes Mellitus in Participants of Primary Healthcare in the Capital of Turkey

Abstract

Introduction: Awareness-based approaches are proven to reduce disease-related complications, depressive symptoms, anxiety during the disease process, economic losses due to disease, and improve quality of life in diabetes patients. This study aims to present the frequency and awareness of diabetes mellitus in patients who applied to a primary health care institution in the capital city of Turkey. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the capital city of Turkey. In statistical analysis; descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and logistic regression analysis methods were employed for the statistical analysis part of this research. Results: 24.4% of the participants had diabetes. Regarding diabetes awareness level, statistically significant differences were found in age, education level, marital status, income, attention to healthy nutrition, BMI and presence of chronic disease. Employment variable has been identified as the factor that affected the diabetes awareness score the most in multiple logistic regression analysis. When only the participants with diabetes were examined in the multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the factor affecting the diabetes awareness score the most was diabetes type. Other influencing factors were determined as diet for diabetes and receiving diabetes education, respectively. Conclusion: Despite of many research that were carried out under the roof of diabetes awareness in the world and in Turkey, the desired level of knowledge and awareness is yet to be reached. Further research needs to be conducted in order to reach this goal