MON-519 Assessment Of Diabetes Knowledge Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Using The Visayan Translation Of The Filipino Version Of The Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test

Abstract Disclosure: A. Peralta: None. A.D. Galia: None. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to increase in the Philippines. Diabetes self-management may be limited by patients' levels of diabetes knowledge. To determine the diabetes knowledge of adult type 2 DM patients in a tertiary hospital, the Filipino version of the Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test (FIL-DKT) (1) was translated into the local Visayan dialect. The Visayan translation was validated by experts and had internal consistency. Ninety-three (93) adult patients with type 2 DM attending a tertiary center in General Santos City were recruited after giving informed consent. Seventy-three (73) were confined; 20 were outpatient consults. Age (60.83 y+/-11.34), Hba1c levels (8.325%+/-2.033), and diabetes duration (7.5y+/-6.382) were observed. The majority of the participants were married, college graduates, self-employed, and spoke the Visayan dialect. The majority (53%) have a monthly family income lower than PhP40,000 (USD711); use of oral medications was more common than insulin (33% vs 20%, p<0.05). Among the 93 participants with diabetes, 64 (68%) had average knowledge, 25 (26%) had poor knowledge, and only 4 (4%) had good knowledge. Age, sex, marital status, and HbA1c level did not affect the level of diabetes knowledge (p>0.05). However, educational attainment and family income are significantly related to diabetes knowledge. Respondents with higher education, particularly college and postgraduate levels, tend to have better knowledge (p=0.037). Similarly, those with higher monthly family incomes (above Php40,000; USD711) were more likely to have average or good knowledge of diabetes compared to those earning less than Php40,000 (USD711) (p<0.01). Employment status and language spoken did not significantly affect diabetes knowledge. The most commonly missed questions were those related to clinical manifestations of ketoacidosis (23% correct), dietary fat (25% correct), carbohydrates (34% correct), and management of hypoglycemia (15% correct). The most common correct answers were related to the effect of exercise on glucose levels (92% correct), the effect of infection on glucose control (90% correct), and the use of blood and urine for glucose monitoring (74% correct). Based on the above findings, the Visayan translation of the FIL-DKT is a helpful tool in assessing the knowledge of diabetes in adult DM patients. Educational attainment and family income were significantly related to diabetes knowledge, while age, sex, marital status, and HbA1c level were not. Discussion on the influence of dietary choices in the management of T2DM and hypoglycemic emergencies needs to be strengthened. (1) Gomez, MFC and Gomez, MH. 2022. “Diabetes Knowledge among patients with Type 2 Diabetes at the University of Santo Tomas Using the Filipino Version of Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test (Filipino- DKT). The Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine, Vol 60, no. 1. Presentation: Monday, July 14, 2025