Publication:

A cross-sectional study on knowledge and health seeking behaviour of adults with diabetes mellitus

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease, involving elevated blood glucose levels. The main subtypes of DM are Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which result from defective insulin secretion and/or action. T1DM presents in children or adolescents, while T2DM is thought to affect middle-aged and older adults.1 An estimated 589 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes 1 in 9. This number is predicted to rise to 853 million by 2050. This study aimed to determine the knowledge regarding diabetes mellitus among adults, to determine the health-seeking behaviour of adults with diabetes mellitus, to find association between level of knowledge and health-seeking behaviours of adults with selected demographic variables.

Methods A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in the. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 sample. The variables of the study were the knowledge level and health-seeking behaviours.  Data collection tool included a structured knowledge questionnaire and a checklist on health-seeking behaviours.

Results The result on level of knowledge on diabetes mellitus revealed that 27% of the adults had a poor level of knowledge, 35 % of the adults had average knowledge and 38% of the adults had good knowledge regarding diabetes Mellitus. Walking was the most common wellness behaviour.

Conclusions The level of knowledge on diabetes Mellitus among the adult participants was average. Walking was the most common wellness behaviour.