title: Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding lifestyle modification in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of persons suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to rise worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in the developing world. Behaviour change and adoption of healthy lifestyle habits help to prevent or slow down the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the knowledge and practice of healthy lifestyles in many diabetic patients have been inadequate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to establish the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding lifestyle modification amongst type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The diabetic clinic of Mamelodi hospital, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was done using a structured questionnaire amongst 217 type 2 diabetic patients seen at the diabetic clinic of Mamelodi hospital. Baseline characteristics of the participants were obtained and their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding lifestyle modification were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 217 participants, 154 (71%) were obese and 15 (7%) were morbidly obese. The majority of respondents (92.2%) had poor knowledge of the benefits of exercise, weight loss and a healthy diet. What is interesting is that the majority (97.7%) demonstrated bad practices in relation to lifestyle modifications, although over four-fifths (84.3%) had a positive attitude toward healthy lifestyle modifications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the positive attitudes of respondents toward healthy lifestyle modifications, the knowledge and practice regarding lifestyle modifications amongst type 2 diabetes mellitus participants seen at Mamelodi hospital were generally poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus. okonta@mweb.co.za.
authors.forename: Henry I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Okonta
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ikombele
authors.forename: Gboyega A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ogunbanjo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology