Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is serious healthcare concern in Saudi Arabia, with the disease's prevalence in the country being one of the highest worldwide. This study examines various factors which affect outcomes of patients with DM; namely, medication adherence, diabetes knowledge, self-management behaviours, and glycemic control.Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey-based study. Participants were patients with a DM diagnosis at King Saud Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results: Positive associations were found between medication adherence and diabetes knowledge; self-management behaviours (glucose management and healthcare use) and diabetes knowledge; self-management behaviours (dietary control) and fasting blood glucose levels; and age and blood glucose levels (both fasting and HgA1c). No associations were found between diabetes knowledge and glycemic control; or between self-management behaviours and HgA1c levels. Conclusion:Having good knowledge of diabetes is associated with medication adherence and healthcare self-management. Healthcare practitioners should consider educating DM patients an integral part of the treatment process.

BACKGROUND:Despite the acknowledgment that the services of diabetes educator and dietician affect outcome, the level of utilization of these services in the Saudi Arabian public health-care system is not known. The aims of the study were to establish the percentage of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) followed up by a diabetic educator and a dietician in a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia and associations between follow-up by a diabetic educator and a dietician and glycemic control.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study of 490 diabetic patients who attended the diabetic outpatient clinic consecutively at a public health-care institution in Riyadh. Patients answered interview questions on clinicodemographic variables and diabetic educator or dietitian follow-up during their care. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C [%, mmol/mol]) and fasting blood glucose (mg/dL, mmol/L) levels were recorded.RESULTS:The majority of patients were male (68.8%), Saudi (71%), married (91.6%), high school or college educated (55.5%), had type 2 DM (85.5%), and were taking oral hypoglycemics (57.3%). 69.0% and 19.8% of the patients had had at least some follow-up with a diabetic educator and dietician, respectively. HbA1C levels were significantly lower in patients who had had a follow-up with a dietitian (9.1 ± 4.5% [76 ± 26 mmol/mol] vs. 7.8 ± 2.2% [62 ± 13 mmol/mol]; unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.80, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.71–0.89, P < 0.0001), including in multivariable analysis (adjusted OR: 0.84, 95% CIs: 0.72–0.99, P = 0.04). Follow-up with a diabetic educator was not associated with glycemic control.CONCLUSIONS:Follow-up with a diabetic dietitian had the greatest impact on glycemic control in type 1 and type 2 DM patients. A review of the national standards of best practice of diabetes education and nutrition in Saudi Arabia is required to optimize the outcomes.