Diabetes knowledge assessment among nurses working in primary health care centers in Riyadh
Introduction
One of the most prevalent lifestyle diseases in Saudi Arabia and worldwide is diabetes mellitus (DM). A metabolic disease called a lack of insulin in the body characterizes the condition. According to the World Health Organization, the condition is “a metabolic disorder of diverse etiologies defined by abnormalities of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism originating from deficiencies in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both” (as cited by Alhaiti, Alotaibi, Jones, DaCosta, & Lenon, 2016, p. 1). Type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and gestational diabetes are the three primary forms. The three ailments must be well managed to improve the affected people’s quality of life. As a result, nurses and other medical professionals must collaborate with patients to assist in effective condition management and treatment. Healthcare professionals should sufficiently understand the illness and therapeutic approaches.
Around the world, diabetes affects people of all ages, genders, and cultural origins. According to estimates from the International Diabetes Federation (2017), 8.8% of people in the globe who are 20 years of age or older have the disease. However, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has a greater prevalence of the illness than other regions (9.6% in 2017). (International Diabetes Federation, 2017). The pace of urbanization, the rise in the elderly population, the rate of obesity due to a decline in physical activity, and other variables are all predicted to contribute to an increase in prevalence (Majeed et al., 2014). Effective therapies are required since diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent diseases in Saudi Arabia and has a significant economic impact. According to the International Diabetes Federation (2017), Saudi Arabia has the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the MENA area, at 17.7%.