Objective:
Diabetes mellitus is an important health issue with its increasing incidence, prevalence, complications, and accompanying economic burden. Prevention of this problem is only possible with an enhancement of knowledge and awareness of this disease. In this study, we aimed to point out the awareness and conception of this disease in patients with diabetes.
Methods:
Eighty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged above 30 years and who had been tested for their blood glucose and HbA1c levels during the last 3 months in the internal medicine outpatient clinic were included in the study. Questions, including sociodemographic description, were asked and a 5-step questionnaire was applied to patients regarding diabetes, and their answers were classified and evaluated.
Results:
Most of the patients had low educational level, diabetes duration of more than 5 years, and accompanying diseases. Although the patients generally had HbA1c levels above ideal levels, very small percentage of the patients were receiving insulin therapy; they mostly used oral antidiabetics, despite their diabetes being unregulated. When the answers of the questionnaire were evaluated, it was found that the knowledge and awareness of the disease was not sufficient. Thus, patients mostly had complications and accompanying diseases.
Conclusion:
Patient education aims to deal with diseases, to keep the disease under control, to make patients follow diet, physical exercise, and medical therapy, to regularly control lifestyle, and to develop the feeling of responsibility. Right precision of the disease and sufficient knowledge is essential for the management of diabetes.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, consciousness level of the disease, awareness