Assessment of Awareness and Practice toward Diabetic Ketoacidosis among Diabetic Patients and Their Caregivers in Hail Region

Abstract

Introduction. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the most serious consequences of diabetes. This serious issue occurs when the body cannot use the glucose as a source of energy because of a lack in the level of insulin which as consequence will lead to an increased level of glucose resulting in DKA. Aim. The goal of this study was to increase diabetic patients’ and caregivers’ awareness and practice of DKA at the community level in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, in 2022. The assessment of people’s awareness and knowledge on DKA is importance to support any subsequent actions. Subjects and Methods. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, among diabetic patients and carers. A self-administered questionnaire in Arabic was given to the target demographic via an internet survey. The questionnaire includes basic demographic data (i.e., age, gender, and marital status), clinical characteristics of the diabetic patients, and a set of questionnaires to assess the awareness and practice of the subjects regarding DKA. Results. 348 surveys were received (51.1% males vs. 48.9% females). A total of 29.9% of patients have been diagnosed with DKA. Out of a possible 14 points, the average awareness score was 5.22 (SD 3.39). Poor awareness levels had been found in nearly 70% of the subjects, 23.6% were moderate, and only 8.6% were considered good. Factors associated with increased awareness were being younger, female gender, unmarried, students, type 1 DM, DKA diagnosis, and having good information about DKA. Conclusion. The awareness of diabetic patients and their caregivers toward DKA was unsatisfactory. Younger female patients who were single and who had been diagnosed with DKA tend to be more aware of DKA as compared to other subjects. There is a compelling reason to bridge the gaps in the awareness of DKA among the diabetic population and their caregivers in our region.

Diabetic ketoacidosis: Knowledge and awareness assessment among parents and caregivers of children and adolescents diagnosed by Type l DM in Saudi Arabia

“…DKA diagnosis and having adequate information about DKA did (P 0.05) (Alreshidi et al, 2022). In contrast, results from another study showed that characteristics that were significantly associated with lower parents' knowledge included being a father, aged >40 years, less than university educated, unemployed or those whose occupation was not healthcare-related (Alhomood et al, 2020).…”

“…This was higher than reported in a cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 348 people from Hail City, Saudi Arabia, found that 43.7% of the respondents were correct that DKA is an emergency complication of DM that required urgent intervention. Only 17.8% of the respondents were aware that DKA is not only for children and more than half (51.1%) believed that maintaining the normal level of A1c reduces the incidence of DKA (Alreshidi et al, 2022). Generally, the results show that more than two-thirds (67.8%) of the subjects were assumed to have poor awareness levels, 23.6% were moderate and only 8.6% were good (Alreshidi et al, 2022).…”

“…Only 17.8% of the respondents were aware that DKA is not only for children and more than half (51.1%) believed that maintaining the normal level of A1c reduces the incidence of DKA (Alreshidi et al, 2022). Generally, the results show that more than two-thirds (67.8%) of the subjects were assumed to have poor awareness levels, 23.6% were moderate and only 8.6% were good (Alreshidi et al, 2022). In Abha City A cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 parents of T1DM children attending the Diabetes Center; more than one-third of parents (37.9%) had poor grade of knowledge regarding DKA, 32.5% had fair grade while 9.6% of parents had good knowledge regarding diabetic ketoacidosis (Alhomood et al, 2020).…”

“…Table(6) reported that: 8.7% defined overeating as a complication of ketoacidosis, 71.6% severe dehydration, 59.8% coma and 22.7% brain swelling. Eat healthy food, exercise and take medication were defined by 88.6% for prevention of ketoacidosis, as well as monitoring blood sugar level daily regularly by 88.6%, adjusting insulin dose as needed 84.1%, go to the emergency department when the blood sugar level is high 75.6% and go to the emergency department when the urine ketone level is high 82.4%.…”

“…until they get better(Alreshidi et al, 2022). Also, results from another study showed that 86.8% of participants correctly stated hospitalization, 55.1% stated insulin administration, while 53% stated intravenous fluids administration(Alhomood et al, 2020).Results from another study observed that nearly half of cases (53.5%) correctly stated that he/she should go to the doctor when having high uncontrolled blood sugar, 37.4% correctly stated that diabetic children should go to the doctor when having repeated vomiting, while only 9.1% correctly stated that diabetic children should go to the doctor when having ketonuria(Alhomood et al, 2020).…”