Diabetes-care practices and related awareness amongst type-2 diabetes patients attending diabetes OPD at a tertiary care hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the most prevalent disease in Saudi Arabia having vast health and economic implications. Hence, it is important that all measures must be undertaken to prevent and control the disease. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the diabetes-care practice and related awareness of patients of type 2 diabetes attending the outpatient department of a diabetes care center at a tertiary care hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used wherein patients attending the outpatient department of the diabetes treatment center of a tertiary hospital in the southern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were surveyed, using a predesigned pretested questionnaire covering the study variables. RESULTS: The study included 287 individuals with type 2 diabetes in the age range 25 years to 90 years (mean age = 55.5 years). Around 57% of the participants were females while the rest were males. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that awareness about diabetic complications among the study population is good, especially among young educated patients who adhere to regular medical follow-up. Attending physicians were a major source of awareness for the patients.