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Abstract Diabetes mellitus is an important clinical and public health problem throughout the world. But patients’ ability to practice self-care is affected by their knowledge about the disease. Aim: This study aims to evaluate diabetic patients for; their knowledge, self- care management and compliance with proper control of diabetes & prevention of its related complications. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was done among 150 adult diabetic patients (type II) came to outpatient clinic of Internal Medicine department in Fayoum University Teaching Hospital over a period of three months from October 2015 to December 2015, for 3 days / week. Data were collected by face-to-face interview through a structured questionnaire and by medical record review. Results: The mean of knowledge score regarding different aspects of diabetes among study patients was 76.8%±14.3% for males and 76.0%±13.9% for females. The mean of the attitude score was 38.0%±16.9% for males, 33.4%±15.9%for females, with (68.7%) regular exercise for at least 30 minutes daily, (9.3%) were following dietary modification regimen and (66%) regularly inspect their feet, Patients attitude was unfavorable among those with low knowledge score. Only (8.6%) of the studied patients practiced blood glucose self-monitoring at home. Most of the patients (91.3%) reported that they were highly adhered to their medication. Nearly half of the patients (47.3%) did not attained the glycoselated heamoglobin level below the cut point (< 7 mg/dL), especially those with low attitude and practice scores. The complications related to diabetes of the studied patients was affected by their attitude and practice particularly coma (26%), retinopathy (65.3%), and neuropathy (77.3%). Conclusions: Glycemic control was poor among patients who did not practice self-monitoring of blood glucose, did not participate in regular exercise, did not follow dietary modification to control their disease and were non adherent to their medication. The complications related to diabetes were affected by patients’ attitude and practice with more complications among those with unfavorable attitude and poor practice. Keywords: diabetes, knowledge, Attitude, practice, self-care management. |