The objective of this study was to assess how much knowledge diabetics have about Diabetes Mellitus given that India has been conferred with the title of “Diabetic Capital” of the world by the WHO, owing to increased incidence and high prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in India. The objective was also to raise awareness about the increasing need for education or awareness programs and patient counseling about Diabetes Mellitus in India. A cross sectional, non-interventional study was conducted at the out-patient and the in-patient departments of Internal Medicine at Owaisi Hospital and Research Centre, Hyderabad for 3 months on 500 patients using a questionnaire. Patients diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were considered for the study. The study throws light on the fact that a majority of the patients including the ones who had a positive family history (62.4%) of Diabetes Mellitus lack basic knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus like the risk factors, whether it is contagious or not, whether it is transmitted via blood or not, symptoms, long term complications, importance of diet and medication, etc. The study highlights the poor knowledge of the patients. The results show that the patients have fared very bad in the assessment test and hence, indicate the need for awareness programs and patient counseling. Given the fact that the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus is very high and increasing by leaps and bounds every day in India, patients need to be given sound knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus.
