Abstract

This survey was undertaken to assess knowledge of diabetes management and control techniques on diabetic patients attending Federal Medical Center, Umuahia and Abia States, Nigeria. A descriptive research design was used for the study and a sample of 96 patients was used. The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using percentages. The major findings showed that 80.2% knew what diabetes is, its signs and symptoms and complications. However, over 75.0% of the subjects did not know the major causes of diabetes. On knowledge of management of diabetes, 88.5 and 74.0% did not know how to avoid complications and prevent/control diabetes respectively. More than two- thirds of the respondents did not know how to take care of themselves in terms of testing their urine and types of food to eat. Majority of them stated that they did not receive any organized education/counseling on diabetes; rather, the health care providers were regimentally prescribing appropriate nutritional and pharmacological treatment for them. It is recommended therefore, that a well-organized and equipped diabetic clinic be established and an educational and counseling programme conducted by nurses once a week to improve the patients’ self-care measures in management of diabetes.

Key words: Diabetes, diabetes knowledge and control, health education, self-care management.