Knowledge of Saudi type 2 diabetic patients about diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its risk factors in Abha City, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge about diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and its risk factors among diabetics in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2022 in primary health care (PHC) centers, Abha City, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an Arabic Language interview questionnaire, which included patients’ demographics, to awareness and knowledge items about DPN and its risk factors in addition to screening for neuropathic symptoms of DPN using the history part of the validated Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). Results: This study included 300 type 2 diabetic patients. Age of 74.7% of participants was (41-60 years). Males constituted 56.7%. The largest proportion of patients were house wives or unemployed (41.3%). More than half of the participants were school –educated (59.7%), while 18.7% were university educated. Almost half of participants (46.6%) reported disease duration between 6-9 years, while for that of 29.2% it was 2-5 years, and for 24.3% was 10 years or more. HbA1c was <7% in 46% of participants. Only 18.3% of participants were awareof DPN. Two-thirds of participants had poor knowledge level about DPN. The most frequently experienced neuropathic symptoms were feeling weak all over most of the time (62.7%), having an open foot sore (59.7%), having muscle lower limb cramps (48.7%) and experiencing burning lower limb pain (45.7%). Prevalence of DPN according to the history part of the MNSI was 9.3% of type 2 diabetic patients had DPN. Participants’ knowledge levels were significantly higher among those with DPN (p=0.045). However, their knowledge levels did not differ significantly according to their personal or clinical characteristics. Conclusions: Most type 2 diabetic patients in Abha City have poor knowledge about DPN and its risk factors. However, prevalence of DPN among them is relatively low. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, knowledge, Saudi Arabia.