Misconceptions about diabetes and its management among low-income minorities with diabetes

OBJECTIVE - To determine diabetic patients' knowledge and beliefs about the disease and medications that could hinder optimal disease management. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A cross-sectional survey of 151 type 2 diabetic patients characterizing diabetes knowledge and beliefs about the disease and medications was conducted. RESULTS - Mean diabetes duration was 13 years. Over half of the patients (56%) believed that normal glucose is≤200 mg/dl, 54% reported being able to feel when blood glucose levels are high, 36% thought that they will not always have diabetes, 29% thought that their doctor will cure them of diabetes, one in four (23%) said there is no need to take diabetes medications when glucose levels are normal, and 12% believed they have diabetes only when glucose levels are high. CONCLUSIONS - Diabetes knowledge and beliefs inconsistent with a chronic disease model of diabetes were prevalent in this sample. Suboptimal knowledge and beliefs are potentially modifiable and are logical targets for educational interventions to improve diabetes self-management.