A RESEARCH STUDY TO COMPARE THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AWARENESS ABOUT DIABETES (TYPE – I & II) AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate disease management awareness among patients diagnosed with diabetes. Method: We conducted this research at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi from September 2017 to June 2018 with the help of a questionnaire that included questions about the complications and management of the diabetes mellitus (DM). Results: Research sample consisted of one hundred patients with 36 males and 64 females. Female population was predominant over males. Patients were selected from different age groups which included 25 years (3%), 25 – 40 years (13%), 41 – 60 years (61%) and above 60 years (23%). Type I and II diabetes mellitus was respectively reported in 6% and 94% study population. Patients also reported various complaints such as eye complaints (20%) and nerve disorder (18%). We also reported nephropathy related issues in 13% of the patients. Glucometer was owned by 58% patients; whereas, 18% of the population was dependent on the government sector for glucose level monitoring. Majority of patients were aware of the management of hypoglycemia (86%), the importance of exercise was well known to (78%) and diet control during diabetes mellitus (76%). Government sector patients were also majorly aware of the DM management (72%), diet control awareness was (66%) and the importance of exercise was known to (32%). Conclusion: We need to educate the level of awareness about the management of diabetes mellitus among the community. The outcomes clearly reflect that the private sector is well aware that the government sector about the disease and its associated complications and management. Government sector awareness level was (40.03%); whereas, the private sector leads the proportion with a value of (63.3%). Keywords: Awareness, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Complications, Glucose Testing, Exercise, Diet Control and Hypoglycemia