Assessing knowledge, attitude, and dietary practice in association with prediabetes risk using objective clinical markers among Saudi adult population: A cross-sectional study

A major risk for developing diabetes is prediabetes (Pre-DM). Assessing knowledge, attitude, and dietary practice (KAP) regarding Pre-DM plays a crucial role in decreasing complications. Limited previous studies on KAP among prediabetic patients exist. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Pre-DM using the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c%) indicator as well as the degree of awareness among Saudi participants in Jeddah about Pre-DM KAP across their body mass index (BMI) categories. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 large public malls, targeting 310 Saudi adults aged 30 to 55 who had no prior diagnosis of diabetes or any chronic disease. A valid questionnaire was used to assess prediabetic KAP. Data were collected through anthropometric measurements, including BMI, fat%, trunk%, and waist to hip ratio. Random blood glucose and HbA1c% were also measured to diagnose Pre-DM. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). In the final analysis, 290 participants were included. Pre-DM was found in 23.1% of participants, diabetes in 3.4%, and 73.4% were normal. Obesity was observed to be strongly associated with Pre-DM compared to a normal BMI (P = .04). Out of the participants, 44.8% had poor knowledge of Pre-DM, and 44.2% of them were overweight. Additionally, 49.8% of the total sample had a neutral attitude, with 55.7% being obese. 53.4% of the total sample reported good practice, with 33% of them being obese. Furthermore, it was found that BMI was significantly associated with knowledge (P = .025) but not with attitude or practice (P > .005). KAP results demonstrated average knowledge with a trend towards poor level, neutral attitudes, and good practice in Pre-DM among the studied Saudis sample. Interestingly, BMI was only correlated to knowledge, but not with practice or attitude, suggesting that raising public awareness is essential to improving Pre-DM prevention. Longitudinal studies with a larger sample size are warranted to better establish causality between knowledge, attitude, and dietary practices.