Knowledge and Diet Adherence to Type II Diabetes Mellitus Management in Akre District in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

Background: Type II diabetes mellitus constitutes a major global public health concern, with its management significantly dependent on patient awareness and compliance with dietary guidelines. As a complex disease, it possesses a genetic component; epigenetics may elucidate the unexplained heritability and non-genetic factors, such as physical activity, nutrition, obesity, and ageing, which influence its development and management.

Objectives: to assess the knowledge and dietary adherence of T2DM patients and to determine the relationship between their knowledge and diet management in the Akre District, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to examine the correlation among knowledge, dietary adherence, and obstacles to managing T2DM in the Akre District of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from September 2024 to May 2025. A total of 300 T2DM patients were chosen, aged between 18-65 years. A structured questionnaire was used to gather the data for the current study, which consisted of three sections. The first deals with patients’ demographic information, the second assesses the patients’ knowledge about diabetes, and the third is related to diet adherence and its barriers in the management of their diabetes. The data were analyzed using frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test.

Results: This study resulted in approximately three-fourths of the diabetic patients, 224 (74.7%), having an average knowledge of DM management, 259 (86.3%), exhibiting partial adherence to diet management, and indicated a highly significant association (P =0.004) between patients’ knowledge and their adherence to management of their diabetes.

Conclusions: The present study concluded that the predominant number of participants have an average knowledge of T2DM management with partial adherence to diet management. Therefore, enhancing diabetes-related nutritional knowledge via individualized education and assistance is crucial for improving dietary adherence among T2DM patients.