Abstract
Background: Diabetes (DM) is a complex disease that affects more than 170 million people worldwide. Despite its knowledge, compliance with medications, and following a diet plan, diabetic patients are at risk of many chronic complications affecting different organ systems, which deteriorates health of the population and increases health care costs. Awareness of diabetic complications at the community level is important to reduce diabetes-related morbidity, mortality and ultimately health care cost. Purpose: The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) To assess the level of awareness of diabetic complications in diabetic patients, and 2) To identify the prevalence of the most common diabetic complications in diabetic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to February 2023. The instrument used was a questionnaire was filled by male and female diabetic patients greater than 18 years old. The data was taken from 320 patients, from private and puclic healthcare settings of Lahore, Pakistan and analyzed by SPSS 21.0. Results: More than 70% of patients were aware of all the diabetic complications except the complications of stroke and frequent infections. This study also found that among the different diabetic complications, peripheral neuropathy is perceived by patients to be the most common complication with a frequency of about 82.2%, and amputation is least common with a frequency about 3.8%. Conclusion: There is a relatively good level of awareness of diabetes and its complications among patients with diabetes in Lahore, Pakistan.
Acknowledgements
In the name of ALLAH (SWT) the most Beneficent, the most Merciful, who has given me the strength and ability to complete this study. All praises belong to ALLAH (SWT), Lord of the universe. May His blessings be upon the Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SAWW) and members of his family and companions. First and foremost, I must acknowledge my limitless thanks to Allah, the Ever-Magnificent; the Ever-Thankful, for His help. I am totally sure that this work would have never become truth, without His guidance. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to our university for giving us an opportunity to complete this work. I am grateful to some people, who worked hard with me from the beginning till the completion of the research particularly my supervisor, Dr. Hafiza Muriam Ghani for her excellent guidance, patience, motivation and immense knowledge. I would like to take this opportunity to say warm thanks to all my beloved friends, who have been so supportive along the way of doing my thesis. I also would like to express my wholehearted thanks to my family for their generous support they provided me throughout my entire life. I would also like to praise the support, guidance and direction given by Dr. Syed Shakeel Ur Rehman in compiling this research work and synopsis. Last but not least, deepest thanks to all females who took part in making this thesis real. Layba Marrium, Maryam Aftab, Rikza Khalid Riphah International University, Lahore-Pakistan
Recommended Citation
Ghani HM, Marrium L, Aftab M, Khalid R. Awareness of the Diabetic Population Towards Diabetic Complications: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2024 Jun 26;22(3), Article 14.
