Patients' knowledge of diabetes: an area for concern

In order to comply with the regimens which give them the best chance of a healthy life, it is essential for diabetics to have a sound understanding of their illness and its treatment. We used a questionnaire to assess interest in and knowledge of diabetes in diabetic adults attending a district general hospital diabetic outpatient clinic over a three month period. Procedures and facilities for patient education were similar to those found in many district hospitals. The results show that many patients had only a poor understanding of their disorder and the treatment they were receiving. On the whole, insulin treated diabetics, who tend to have more time spent with them, were better informed than those treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents or with diet alone. This study demonstrates the difficulty of achieving an acceptable level of awareness and understanding in a diabetic population. Regular use of a simple questionnaire in the outpatient department and in the GP's surgery could be a useful method for identifying problem areas.