Knowledge and Awareness of Type 2 Diabetes Complications in Conflict-Affected Regions: A Cross-Sectional Study in Homs, Syria

Background Diabetes mellitus is a significant global health problem characterized by high blood sugar levels due to either a lack of insulin or insensitivity to it. Concerns about diabetes complications are growing both globally and locally, making effective preventive measures crucial to tackle these complications. This research aimed to determine the level of knowledge and awareness regarding type 2 diabetes complications among patients in Homs, Syria, during the ongoing conflict. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1016 diabetic patients aged 16 years and above attending internal medicine and diabetes clinics in Homs City through a structured questionnaire administered via social media, telephone interviews, and paper forms. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic characteristics. In contrast, inferential statistics such as the chi-square test were used to test for associations between different variables with p-value < 0.05 as the significance level. Results The study found that 478 (47.1%) of participants were male, and 538 (53%) were female. The majority 652 (64.2%) were between 46 and 70 years old, and 422 (41.5%) had primary-level education. Most were married 750 (73.8%) and lived in urban areas 856 (84.2%). Diabetes knowledge varied significantly by age, education, occupation, and residence. Housewives and those with lower education levels had the least knowledge, while urban residents and those with 1-5 years since diagnosis had better awareness. Individuals with relatives in the medical field had higher knowledge levels. Results indicate that gender did not significantly influence diabetes knowledge (p = 0.19), while younger adults showed poorer awareness compared to older age groups (p < 0.05). Higher education levels were associated with better knowledge (p < 0.05), and a family history of diabetes correlated with greater awareness of complications. Occupation significantly impacted knowledge, with employed individuals and urban residents demonstrating higher awareness levels (p < 0.05). Diabetes knowledge peaked during the 6-10 year disease duration (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study assesses diabetes knowledge and management practices among 1016 participants in Homs, Syria, focusing on demographic and socioeconomic factors. Our findings underscore the need for targeted educational initiatives to improve diabetes management, particularly among younger, less educated, and rural populations in Homs. The analysis reveals significant knowledge gaps about diabetes across different demographics in Homs, highlighting the need for targeted educational programs, especially for younger individuals, the less educated, and rural residents. The study emphasizes the importance of education and medical practice in understanding diabetes, particularly in conflict-affected areas.