Awareness of diabetic retinopathy among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary health care in security forces hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that is characterized by distortion in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins and involves hyperglycemia. DM has different types. Several complications are associated with diabetes including diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR can further results in bad outcomes that can be avoided by early diagnosis and management. AIM: The aim of this paper is to assess the awareness and knowledge level about DR among type 2 DM patients in primary health care in security forces hospital. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on Saudi patients with type 2 DM who visited primary health care in security forces hospital. RESULTS: This study included 174 participants, with equal male to female ratio was 1:1, there were 64.9% participants who reported controlled blood glucose level, and 47.1% reported that eye was affected by diabetes. There were 82.8% participants who had awareness about DR; the level of awareness differs significantly with sex (P value = 0.04) and the level of DM control (P value = 0.02). CONCLUSION: There was high level of knowledge regarding DR; however, there were few percent of participants who had no awareness and still at risk.