Knowledge on diabetes and its management among the selected diabetics (30 – 50 years)

Health implies a sound mind, in a sound body, in a sound family and in a sound environment. At present changes in lifestyle and dietary pattern stemming from rapid modernization have favoured an increase in non-communicable diseases among the people. Among the non-communicable diseases diabetes is now recognized as one of the fastest growing threats to public health in almost all countries of the world. Globally, an estimated 463 million adults are living with diabetes, according to the latest 2019 data from the International Diabetes Federation. In order to effectively manage diabetes people must acquire the necessary knowledge on diabetes. The objective of the study is to know the knowledge on diabetes and its management among the selected Diabetics. For this study there are 300 Diabetics in the age group of 30 – 50 years were purposely selected by purposive random sampling method from the three villages namely Athoor, N. Panchampatti and Perumalkovilpatti in Athoor Block of Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. In order to collect the required data an Interview Schedule was framed and pre tested. The finalized Schedule was used to collect the data from the Diabetics. To assess the knowledge on diabetes among the Diabetics the scores were given. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS 16.0) programme. Among the selected 300 Diabetics 164 (54.7 %) of the Diabetics were males and 136 (45.3 %) of the Diabetics were females. More than half (56%) of the Diabetics were either illiterates or had education only up to primary level. One third (27%) of the Diabetics belonged to sedentary type of workers. The majority (86%) of the Diabetics belonged to low income and economically weaker section group. Among the Diabetics 32.7 percent, 30 percent and 22.7 percent reported that they got the information on Diabetes through mass media such as Television, Radio and Newspaper respectively. Twenty percent and 13 percent of them reported that they got the information from Physicians and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) respectively. Regarding knowledge on diabetes more than half (54%) of the Diabetics obtained very poor scores (1-10). Forty five percent (45%) of the Diabetics obtained poor scores (11-20). Only one percent of the Diabetics belonged to the fair group (20-30). It was noticed that none of the Diabetics scored above thirty. This indicates their knowledge on diabetes was very poor. Hence, the study concludes, it is felt essential to give diabetic education to the Diabetics to effective management of their diabetes.