Knowledge and Practice of Self-Management Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Benin City, Nigeria

Introduction:Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that requires lifelong medical management, health education and self-management. The positive health outcomes of Type 2 diabetes are tied to patients’ knowledge of the disease through health education, self-management of the disease and using the health resources of the nations. Through self-management there can be improvement in the glycaemic control and quality of life of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Activities include practices such as dietary modification, performing increased physical activity, feet care, adherence to prescribed drugs, monitoring of blood glucose level, regular clinic visiting, managing stress, rest, psychological management and continuous monitoring of their health

Purpose: The aim of the study is to describe the knowledge and practice of self-management of patents with Type 2 diabetes which could affect their ability to successfully achieve glycaemic control, desirable health outcomes and prevent or delay complications.

Methods: A qualitative research which utilised purposive sampling approach in selecting participants who were out patients with type 2 diabetes from two health care institutions in Benin- City, Edo State. It involved the use of semi structured face to face interviews with the participants who were 30 patients with Type 2 diabetes attending consultant outpatient clinics in the health institutions which are government owned tertiary and secondary health care institutions during the period of January to April 2014.

Results: Analysis of data revealed a gap in knowledge and self-management of Type 2 diabetes among the patients. Patients with Type 2 diabetes know and understand diabetes as a sickness superficially and tacitly but they find the self-management of Type 2 diabetes both challenging and expensive. There was poor self-management practice especially poor self-monitoring of blood glucose and diet.

Recommendations:The result can assist health care professionals especially public health nurses in tailoring health education aimed at improving control of type 2 diabetes as well as preparing programmes that are aimed to impact on the patients ‘ knowledge and self-management of Type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion: The burden of Type 2 diabetes is enormous for the affected, the family and the society. Health education for self-management by nurses plays a critical role in the management of patients with Type 2 diabetes.