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.


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 <or=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.
Mann
Devin M
DM
1Division of General Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. devin.mann@mssm.edu
Ponieman
Diego
D
Leventhal
Howard
H
Halm
Ethan A
EA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D011203:Poverty
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin