Diabetes-Related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Exercise and Its Benefits Among Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Regular exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on the health outcomes of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, it is still underutilized in developing countries. This study investigated diabetes-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward exercise and its benefits among individuals with T2DM. A total of one hundred and ninety-nine participants (male = 21.6% and female = 78.4%) with T2DM, aged between 18 and 75, (43.77 SD± 14.78) years, participated in the study. A validated diabetes-related knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire, evaluated by true/false or unsure, was utilized in the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics analysis was used to analyze data with the significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. The results demonstrated poor diabetes-related knowledge of exercise (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The majority of the study participants, 163 (81.90%) with T2DM, did not know that physical activity and exercise are different. About 158 (70.40%) of the study participants felt that their regular work was an adequate substitution for exercise. More than 50% of the study participants demonstrated a positive practice towards exercise and its benefits towards T2DM (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The majority of the study participants reported poor knowledge and a negative attitude toward diabetes. However, their diabetes-related practices were satisfactory.