Inadequate diabetes knowledge is associated with poor glycemia control in patients with type 2 diabetes

• Published in: Atención primaria 2023-05, Vol.55 (5), p.102604
• Main Authors: Lubia Velázquez López, Abril Violeta Muñoz Torres, Patricia Guadalupe Medina Bravo, Jorge Escobedo de la Peña
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Conocimiento en diabetes; Control glucémico; Diabetes tipo 2; Dieta; Educación en diabetes; Obesidad
• ISSN: 0212-6567

Objective: To identify the association between glycemia control with level of diabetes knowledge, diabetes education, and lifestyle variables in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Site: Clinics of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), Mexico. Participants: Patients with type 2 diabetes. Main measurements: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glucose, and lipid profile levels were measured from fasting venous blood samples. Assessment of disease knowledge was performed using the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured. Weight and abdominal circumference were measured, as well as body composition using bioimpedance. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables were obtained. Results: A total of 297 patients were included, sixty-seven percent (67%) were women with a median of six years since the diagnosis of diabetes. Only 7% of patients had adequate diabetes knowledge, and 56% had regular knowledge. Patients with adequate diabetes knowledge had a lower body mass index (p = 0.016), lower percentage of fat (p = 0.008), and lower fat mass (p = 0.018); followed a diet (p = 0.004) and had received diabetes education (p = 0.002), and to obtain information about their illness (p = 0.001). Patients with low levels of diabetes knowledge had a higher risk of HbA1c ≥ 7% (OR: 4.68; 95% CI: 1.48,14.86; p = 0.009), as well as those who did not receive diabetes education (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.21–3.90; p = 0.009) and those who did not follow a diet (OR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.01,5.55; p = 0.046). Conclusion: Inadequate knowledge of diabetes, lack of diabetes education, and dietary adherence are associated with poor glycemia control in patients with diabetes. Resumen: Objetivo: Identificar la asociación entre el control de la glicemia con el nivel de conocimiento, la educación y las variables de estilo de vida en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. Diseño: Estudio transversal analítico. Sitio: Clínicas del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México. Participantes: Pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. Medidas principales: Se midió el nivel de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c), glucosa y perfil de lípidos en ayuno. La evaluación del conocimiento de la enfermedad se realizó con el Cuestionario de Conocimiento de la Diabetes (DKQ-24). Se midió presión arterial, peso y circunferencia abdominal, así como la composición corporal con bioimpedancia. Las variables clínicas y de estilo de vida fueron reg