Evaluation of knowledge and practice on hygienic and dietary measures in type 2 diabetics at the Mali hospital in 2024

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not properly use the insulin produced. It represents a major public health issue, particularly in Mali, where more than 2 million people are affected by it. In a context marked by  poverty  and  low  levels  of  education,  the  application  of  health  and  diet  measures  (MHD),  although  essential  in  the  management  of  diabetes,  remains  difficult.  This  study aimed  to evaluate the level of knowledge and practices of persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on health and  diet  measures.  A  cross-sectional  study  was  conducted  from  August  to  October  2023,  involving 205 patients followed for T2D at the Mali hospital. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews  with  patients  and  a  review  of  their  medical  records.  The  analysis  was  performed using SPSS-20 software. Approximately 48.8% of patients with T2DM (PDT2) had good knowledge of the definition of diabetes, and 8.8% knew the type of diabetes they had. The most cited sign was the frequent urge to urinate (92.2% of PDT2). In terms of practice, 38% of the participants performed regular blood sugar monitoring at home, 29.3% consulted a dietitian,and 43.9% practiced physical activity. The most common difficulty in respecting the MHD was financial  (59.5  %).  Our  study  revealed  that,  despite  MHDs  having  good knowledge,  their practice was limited. An analytical study could better identify these factors.