Knowledge and Awareness of Exercises in Diabetes Mellitus among Female Population

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is influenced by multi-factorial components, such as behavioural, environmental and social factors. Exercises are considered to be very effective in prevention, care and management of diabetes, but the awareness of exercises in diabetes is limited and underutilized. As knowledge is essential in bringing alteration in behaviour, it is important to know the awareness. The awareness of community-based knowledge in rural population is necessary as it reduces the burden in the society by promoting health education. Aims/Objectives: To find the knowledge and awareness of exercises and its types in diabetes mellitus among female population, and to find the association between the knowledge and awareness of diabetes based on age and level of education. Method: This study is a cross-sectional study involving 195 females between the age of 18 and 60 years who were interviewed by the personal investigator using a structured questionnaire form which is structured in a way to find the age, level of education, knowledge and awareness of diabetes mellitus, its risk factors, complications, prevention and management of diabetes mellitus by different types of exercises. Results: Results suggested that even though there is a good awareness of a diabetes mellitus as a condition (100%), people lacked knowledge and awareness in various aspects of diabetes mellitus such as risk factors (81.3 %), prevention (70.3%), type of exercises (aerobic exercises: 94.0%, resistance exercises: 33.2% and flexibility exercises: 31.0%), role of exercises in diabetes mellitus and exercise induced hypoglycemia (60%). Association between the knowledge & awareness of diabetes mellitus based on educational status revealed that literacy rate plays an important role in influencing a person’s knowledge. Conclusion: This study established that even though people are aware of a condition called diabetes mellitus, the knowledge regarding its risk factors, prevention, complications and type of exercises are grossly inadequate.