Abstract:
Diabetes is a chronic condition brought on by either insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or inefficient insulin utilization by the body. Because high blood glucose levels disrupt metabolic processes, diabetes affects every system in the body, especially if proper diabetes care is not maintained for a set amount of time. The study aimed to assess the evaluation of knowledge and self- care practices in diabetic patients and their disease management. Diabetes patients who admitted the hospital during March to June, 2024 were the subjects of this cross sectional investigation. This study of revealed that the largest group was aged 36-55 years (60%), with a majority being male (76.1%) and having Type II diabetes (57.3%). Most participants had diabetes for 1–5 years and incomes between 16,000–25,000 Taka. Over half (59.2%) were overweight, and many had fasting blood glucose levels above 7 mmol/l. While 67.8% monitored their blood glucose regularly, 90% did not consistently do so, and 95.3% had never consulted a dietitian. Younger individuals and those with higher education demonstrated better self-care practices, including dietary adherence and medication use. Physical activity, primarily walking, was common but limited in duration. Challenges like inadequate education program attendance, poor sleep quality, and insufficient support systems indicate a need for targeted interventions, especially for older and lower-income groups. The study highlights significant gaps in diabetes self-care, with challenges in adherence to recommendations among participants. Many lack access to dietitians, educational programs, and adequate support systems. While some engage in monitoring and dietary practices, adherence to meal plans, physical activity, and medication routines remains inconsistent. Barriers include limited health literacy, restricted access to care, and socioeconomic challenges. Improving self-care requires tailored education, better healthcare access, enhanced community support, and effective policy initiatives to address these challenges and improve outcomes.
