Correlation between knowledge and characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in controlling blood glucose

Background: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a non-communicable disease, with an estimated prevalence based on the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) to increase by 46%. Community knowledge about T2DM is relatively low. Improving this level of knowledge is essential to reduce the prevalence of this disease. Objective: To determine the correlation between patients' knowledge and characteristics of T2DM. Method: Knowledge was measured using the Indonesian translation of the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire 24 (DKQ-24), which was distributed to 300 patients who met the inclusion criteria. This study used the cross-sectional method. Result: The results showed that the level of knowledge obtained high knowledge with a score of ≥ 12 in 151 patients (53%), while a low level of knowledge with a score of < 12 was in 149 patients (47%). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the level of knowledge and education, work, and blood glucose parameters. Furthermore, a high knowledge level was associated with better blood glucose control. Conclusion: This study concluded that knowledge and education determined the patient's glycemic control.