SELF-CARE, SELF-RELIANCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF DIABETES AMONG DIABETICS INQASSIM REGION, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To assess the pattern of aspects of self-care and self-reli ance among the Primary Health Care (PHC) centers' registered diabetic subjects. Design: A cross-sectional study with main parameters as know ledge about home urine testing for glucose, home blood glucose monitor ing, self-injection with insulin, knowledge about the chronic complica tions of diabetes, and knowledge of symptoms of hypoglycemia. Setting: The Primary Health Care Centers in Qassim region. Subjects: A random sample of 975 diabetic subjects who were registered and followed up at the Primary Health Care Centers in Qassim region, Methods: Subjects w ere interviewed by trained Primary Health Care Centers doctors, and as pects of self-care and knowledge about chronic complications of diabet es and symptoms of hypoglycemia were recorded. Results: The study reve aled that 13% of the sample knew how to test urine for glucose at home . Only 4.6% were familiar with home blood glucose monitoring. About on e quarter knew about the chronic complications of diabetes while 50.6% knew the symptoms of hypoglycemia. About one-third of patients treate d with insulin knew how to inject themselves with insulin. Conclusion: The study revealed that the status of self-care and self-reliance amo ng diabetic subjects is modest and calls for a health strategy to impr ove it.