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Abstract:
Among all non-communicable diseases (NCDs), diabetes mellitus type II (DM2) is associated with the highest co-morbidities and complications affecting people of diverse social-economic status. In 2012, an estimated 422 million people in the world comprising 2.3 million in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) had DM2. DM2 is an increasing public health burden in Kenya, and is projected to reach 4.5% by 2025. Effective interventions for DM2 comprise individualized health education, lifestyle and behavioral change, physical exercise, nutritional and diet, weight and blood glucose monitoring, and pharmacological programs. However, in Kenya individuals suffering DM2 are frequently diagnosed with advanced disease predisposing them to increased risk of developing co-morbidities and complications. Although records at Garissa County Hospital show that only one-hundred and twelve adults are currently attending diabetes clinics, the prevalence of the disease at county level is unknown. In addition, these patients mainly receive chemotherapeutic care, with 35% defaulting the treatment and predisposing them to increased disease burden and death. Despite studies showing that health education and behavioral change predict plasma levels of the biochemical markers and physiologic changes in the DM2 patients and those at risk of the disease, these markers have not been integrated into control and management of the disease in Garissa County. Therefore this study determined the effect of knowledge levels on managements of DM2 at Garissa County Hospital. The study sample size 138 adults enrolled at the diabetes clinics at the Garissa County hospital. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Data analysis was conducted using IBM-SPSS version 21. Based on the finding, it was clear that most of the respondents were aware of several factors associated with diabetes. For instance, 68% of the participants were aware that it is not true that eating too much sugar and sweet foods is a cause of diabetes (Mean:1.18; SD=0.387),97% were aware that it is false that Diabetes is caused by the kidneys' difficulty in keeping the urine without sugar (Mean=1.83; SD=0.387), all the participants were aware that it is false that regular exercise increases the need for insulin or other medicine for diabetes (Mean=2.00; SD=.000),82% of the respondents were aware that it is false that Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is caused by too much food (Mean=1.99; SD=0.110). The results of this study provided vital information for formulating strategies and policies for comprehensive and sustainable diabetes management by County and Ministry of health.
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