AWARENESS OF DIABETICS TOWARDS DIABETES AND DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS IN KERALA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Vivek Joseph Varughese, *Sowparnika Treasa Sabu and Vignesh Krishnan Nagesh

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is widely recognized as an emerging epidemic that has a cumulative impact on almost every country, age group, and economy across the world. According to the International Diabetes Federation, in 2015, approximately 415 million people were suffering from diabetes worldwide, and this number is expected to exceed 640 million by the year 2040. It is estimated that half of patients with diabetes are unaware of their disease and are thus more prone to developing diabetic complications. In our study, 77% of subjects under the age of 30 scored good, the same proportion being 41% in the 30-60 age group, and 22 % in subjects above 60. Statistical significance was present for knowledge, attitude as well as practices when the subjects were assessed based on their educational level. A similar trend was observed with regards to the family income also: with a good score regarding knowledge rising from 34% among subjects from families with an income less than 10,000 to 84% in subjects from families with an income more than 40,000. Age, educational status, family history of Diabetes and information thus gathered from the relatives and income play a significant role in controlling Diabetes and its complications.

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