[Disease knowledge among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending primary care].

Objective: assess disease knowledge among a patient population.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional study in two health care centers belonging to the National Institute of Social Security (ISSSTE). A general knowledge questionnaire was applied to 141 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chi-square tests to compare demographic variables with knowledge level were used. Alpha was set at p < 0.05.

Results: 29.2% of participants scored correct answers and only 12.3% were fully knowledgeable. The highest percentage (42.4%) of correct knowledge was related to levels of blood glucose. There was no association between appropriate metabolical control among patients and disease knowledge. Being younger, having higher education and less than 10 years with the disease generated higher levels of knowledge.

Conclusions: Knowledge levels among the studied population are low and similar to the results from the literature. Demographic characteristics such as age and education are associated with changes in degree of knowledge. Patient educational programs are a fundamental component of a comprehensive approach to diabetes prevention.