Type 2 diabetics and their disease: Bougouni/Mali region

We evaluated the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of 189 type 2 diabetics in relation to their health problem in the Health and Reference Centre of the Bougouni Region in 2023. This study shows that the majority of our patients had a good level of knowledge about diabetes, but a considerable number had a poor knowledge of certain topics such as glycaemic figures, measures to accompany sport and eating the same dish in a group. Factors such as age, schooling and the length of time diabetes had been present seemed to have a positive influence on knowledge of the disease. The attitude and practice of diabetics were linked to their level of knowledge. Studies on type 2 diabetics show that those who have received therapeutic education are more aware of their illness, know how to treat themselves better and are more balanced; thus delaying or avoiding chronic complications. Particular attention should therefore be paid to the education of diabetic patients as part of the chronic disease management programme by the health authorities.