Assessment of Diabetes Knowledge Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients, A Cross-Sectional Observational Study of Karachi

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among patients and identify factors influencing their understanding and management practices. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Settings: The research was conducted in the MSc Diabetes & Endocrinology program of the College of Family Medicine Pakistan. Duration: from June 2023 to June 2024. Methods: 323 T2DM patients, collected data using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic information, diabetes knowledge, management practices, and awareness of complications. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics to summarize demographic characteristics and knowledge levels and inferential statistics such as chi-square tests and logistic regression to identify factors associated with diabetes knowledge. Results: The study revealed that 48.7% of participants had moderate knowledge levels, 28.4% had high knowledge levels, and 22.9% had low knowledge levels. Higher educational attainment and programs program participation were significantly associated with better knowledge scores (p < 0.001). Patients with higher knowledge levels demonstrated better self-management practices, with significant correlations observed between knowledge and adherence to self-care practices (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Additionally, factors such as education level, income, and duration of diabetes were significant predictors of diabetes knowledge. Conclusion: The findings indicate that while many T2DM patients possess moderate to high levels of diabetes knowledge, significant gaps remain, particularly among those with lower educational levels and limited access to educational programs. The study underscores the need for continuous and targeted educational interventions to improve diabetes knowledge and self-management practices, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and reducing the risk of complications.