The study focused on assessment of knowledge base on dietary and drug regimen in diabetes mellitus management among patients attending Endocrinology Clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria. It identified factors associated with poor adherence/compliance to treatment and relationship between demographic data and knowledge of drug and dietary regimen. Cross-sectional descriptive design was employed using a semi structured interviewer administered questionnaire to gather information from 120 clients. Simple random sampling technique (balloting type) was used to select clients. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 and hypotheses tested using Chi-Square, while P value was set at <0.05. The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents were above age 40. The knowledge of clients on dietary and drug regimen was on the average (50% & 45.8% respectively). Factors that affected adherence to drug treatment were high cost of antidiabetic drugs and the idea of taking drugs for life. There was a significant relationship between gender and knowledge of drug but no significant relationship between gender and knowledge of dietary regimen. Conclusion was that clients had average knowledge of drug and diet regimen and high cost of drugs affected compliance/adherence. Therefore Nigerian government should subsidize antidiabetic agents, while nurses and other medical personnel should educate clients on treatment regimen.
Keywords: Diabetic Mellitus, Diet Regimen, Drug, Knowledge
