A study examining the level of awareness regarding lifestyle risks and management practices among diabetes patients in Eastern India

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-recognized metabolic condition requiring patients to know its associated risks. Embracing a healthy lifestyle can play a vital role in mitigating the potential for adverse health outcomes and increasing overall well-being. Objective: In this study, researchers examined the level of awareness concerning lifestyle risks, as well as knowledge and practices related to diabetes management, among patients residing in both urban and rural areas of Eastern India. Materials and Methods: The study randomly selected 86 participants from both urban and rural areas who were visiting the endocrinology outpatient department of a hospital in Kolkata. Data for the analysis were exclusively obtained through a questionnaire survey. Results: The correlation matrix analysis uncovered significant positive relationships (P < 0.05) among various parameters, offering valuable insights into lifestyle risks associated with diabetes and potential preventive measures for this condition. In the urban patient group, principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that DM-related knowledge explained approximately 46.36% of the total variation in principal component 1 (PC1), showing favorable associations with other parameters. Conversely, for the rural patients, PCA revealed that lifestyle management practices accounted for approximately 50.55% of the total variation in PC1, with relatively higher favorable associations with other parameters. Conclusion: This study investigated the influence of lifestyle risk factors and self-management parameters, including knowledge and practices, on managing DM among patients residing in urban and rural areas. The findings revealed that patients in urban areas had a higher awareness level than those in rural areas. Importantly, this study is the first to establish an association between parameters related to PCA concerning lifestyle risk knowledge and management practices.