This cross-sectional, questionnaire based descriptive study was carried out to evaluate the individual knowledge of diabetic complications in the diabetic patients and also to find the association of knowledge towards educational status and other socio-demographic profiles. A total 184 patients were included in this study. In this study, we found 91 subjects (48.9%) knew that heart disease was the most important diabetic complication, if blood glucose level wasn't controlled properly followed by cerebrovascular disease 27(14.7%), renal disease 24(13%) and eye diseases 9(4.9%). Unfortunately, awareness about frequency of diabetic foot disease, peripheral neurological problems, occurrence of sudden death were found in only 1(0.5%) cases. Awarness about other complications (miscellaneous) was 12(6.5%) and 8(4.3%) didn't know any of the above mentioned complications. Each subject was also asked whether they were apprehensive about the dreaded diabetic complications or not. Statistical difference wasn't observed in any of the parameter (i.e., individual education, an area of residence, monthly income, occupations, family history of individual) when compared with the degree of apprehension. None of the parameters was statistically significant. Further expansion of diabetic education programs like using mass media and involving national curriculum of education can improve self-regulatory awareness of diabetic complications which may reduce the morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients. Key words: diabetic complication, apprehension.   doi: 10.3329/jom.v10i2.2821 J MEDICINE 2009; 10 : 90-93

This cross-sectional survey was carried out during the period, October 2005 to December 2005, among 184 randomly chosen diabetic patients in Khulna Diabetic Centre, Khulna, Bangladesh, to evaluate the knowledge of the patients for their control of diabetes mellitus and also to explore the association(s) of their attitude and knowledge regarding diabetic awareness towards educational status and socio-demographic profile. In this study, we found a significant difference, in diabetic awareness to keep correct blood glucose level, in different educational group. But, it did not influence the subjects of different educational group to visit the diabetic clinic. There was no significant difference in the knowledge of correct blood glucose level and in regularity of visit to the diabetic clinic, in rural and urban people. Knowledge of correct blood glucose level varied significantly among male and female patients, although, no significant variation was found among them in visiting to the diabetic clinic. We can conclude that, diabetic education programs can improve self-regulatory behavior and in the long run, can reduce morbidity and mortality.   doi:10.3329/jom.v10i3.2008 J Medicine 2009; 10 (Supplement 1): 7-10 Â