Assessment of Knowledge, Lifestyle Practices, Medication Trends, and the Status of Certain Complications in People with Diabetes in Three Remote Areas of Bangladesh

A bstract Context: Diabetes mellitus is a serious threat to public health across the world. However, studies related to knowledge about diabetes, lifestyle practices, and medication trends in diabetic people residing in remote areas of Bangladesh are not well studied. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the actual lifestyle of individuals with diabetes living in remote areas, their knowledge, and the complications associated with diabetes. Settings and Design: The design of this study was cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative in nature. Materials and Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire of 17 questions was prepared. Three hundred and nine patients from three distant regions of Nilfamari, Chandpur, and Noakhali responded to the questionnaire. This study was conducted from October 2019 to December 2019. Analysis of quantitative data was conducted using both IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 and MS Excel version 2013. Results: This study found that 84.3% diabetes of people with diabetes in three remote areas lack knowledge on exercise, complications, symptoms, and side effects. About 84.8% of individuals do not eat a healthy diet, and they consume more carbohydrates. Moreover, 83.2% people have dental complications as a result of consuming large amounts of betel leaf, which increases their risk of developing diabetes. Conclusions: The scenario of diabetic people in three remote areas of Bangladesh was genuinely alarming, as the majority of the patients were not serious about the consequences. Therefore, more focused awareness programs and checkups should be arranged by the government and non-governmental organizations for a healthier lifestyle of diabetic people in remote areas.