EVALUATE THE KNOWLEDGE OF DIABETIC PATIENTS ABOUT DIABETIC CARE AND DIABETIC FOOT PROBLEMS

Background: Diabetic foot complications are a primary cause of mortality in developing countries, where the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and practices regarding diabetes and diabetic foot care among patients visiting tertiary care clinics. Objective: To assess the level of awareness and the quality of foot care practices among diabetic patients in a tertiary healthcare setting and to identify any correlations with health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over four months at several tertiary care clinics and hospitals in Karachi. Medical officers administered pre-tested questionnaires to 240 diabetic patients to collect data on their knowledge and practices related to diabetic foot care. Results: The study found that 83.1% of patients demonstrated good knowledge of diabetes management and foot care, while 87.2% reported good practice in managing their diabetic foot care needs. Additionally, 77.2% of the participants had a family history of diabetes. Analysis showed a positive correlation between patients’ education levels, income per capita, and their foot care habits, indicating that higher socioeconomic status is associated with better diabetes management and foot care practices. Conclusion: Despite the high levels of good practice reported, a majority of the patients lacked adequate knowledge about diabetes and its associated foot care, which could lead to severe complications. This highlights the need for improved educational interventions at the community and clinic levels to enhance patient knowledge and reduce the risk of diabetic foot complications.