Awareness of Complications in Diabetic Patients - Study in a Tertiary Care Centre in Kerala

Abstract

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is common in the Indian population and awareness regarding the disease and its complications is low among the patients with diabetes. There is lack of studies regarding awareness of complications of diabetes among type 2 diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of diabetic complications among type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS This is an institutional based observational study. The sample comprised of 150 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent treatment in the Department of Medicine, Medical College Kottayam and the patient’s age ranged from 18 - 77 years. RESULTS Majority of patients were in the age group 38 to 57 and the sample comprised of 56 % males and 44 % female patients. Out of 150 patients involved in the study, 120 patients (80 %) were aware of the complications of diabetes mellitus. Among the male patients, 70 (83.33 %) and among females, 50 (75.75 %) were aware of the complications in diabetes. In the study sample, 92 (61.33 %) were aware of the foot problems, 120 patients (80 %) were aware of renal complications, 91 patients were aware regarding eye problems of diabetes, 38 (25.33 %) regarding development of hypertension, 62 (41.33 %) regarding heart attack, 42 (28 %) patients were aware regarding development of stroke and 78 patients (52 %) had awareness regarding occurrence of recurrent infections. CONCLUSIONS Awareness regarding diabetes and its complications is fairly good among the diabetic patients in Kerala. Awareness regarding all complications of diabetes was higher among males than females. Providing awareness to type 2 diabetic patients by various educational programs may be of further help to prevent complications and to decrease the mortality and morbidity in type 2 diabetes patients. KEYWORDS Awareness, Diabetes