NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF DIABETIC PATIENTS IN SECONDARY HEALTH FACILITIES, KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia from deficiencies in insulin secretion, action, or both. It reduces the quality of life and life expectancy of patients26. Research shows that adequate nutritional knowledge and good nutritional status have a huge role in reducing its risk. The nutritional status of an individual is influenced by food intake and physical health8.

Objectives: 1. To assess the nutritional knowledge among diabetics in secondary health facilities (SHF), Kaduna metropolis. 2. To assess the nutritional status among diabetic patients in SHF, Kaduna metropolis.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a multistage sampling technique among 184 respondents. Nutritional knowledge and Body mass index (BMI) were assessed. IBM SPSS (Version 26) was used for data analysis. Results were presented using frequency tables and charts; Chi-square/ Fisher's exact test were used to assess the relationship between dependent and independent variables (level of significance set at p<0.05).

Result: The mean age was 57.3 ± 12.67 years. Only 25.5% had good nutritional knowledge while 73.9% had fair knowledge. Normal BMI was found in 36.1%, and overweight and obesity were found in 39.1% and 19.5% respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship between the BMI and the nutritional knowledge. (p = 0.876).

Conclusion: Only about a quarter of the respondents had good nutritional knowledge; more than half of the respondents were found to be either overweight or obese. Thus, there should be concerted efforts to address the gap in the nutritional knowledge of diabetic patients.