Diabetic ketoacidosis: knowledge and practice among patients with diabetes attending three specialized diabetes clinics in Khartoum, Sudan

INTRODUCTION: diabetic Ketoacidosis is the leading cause of mortality in children and adolescents with T1DM and accounts for about 50% of all deaths in patients younger than 24 years with diabetes. It affects 8 out of 1000 people with diabetes annually, with a worldwide mortality rate of 2-10%. The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice towards DKA among patients with diabetes attending three diabetes clinics in Khartoum. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional institution-based study. It included all patients with diabetes attending three diabetes clinics in Khartoum state over the period July – September 2016. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess and score knowledge and practice towards DKA among patients with diabetes. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. RESULTS: one hundred and ten patients participated in the study, of whom 86 had heard of DKA and were questioned further. Fifty-six point nine percent of participants had poor knowledge (0-8 out of 24) and low practice scores (0-2 out of 6). There was a strong association between knowledge scores and attended clinics. CONCLUSION: there was an evident lack of knowledge and poor practice towards DKA among patients with diabetes attending diabetes clinics in Khartoum, Sudan.