Abstract:

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is an emerging public health concern with multiple complications and increasing prevalence. According to International Diabetes Federation Atlas (2015), an estimated 69.2 million Indians are Diabetic, as per the WHO assessment, stood at 63 million in the year 2013. The study aims to assess the knowledge and practice regarding lifestyle modification among the patients with diabetes mellitus. Methodology: Descriptive research design was used for the study. Data was collected from the samples with non-probability convenient sampling techniques who met the inclusive criteria. Result and Findings:    The study found that 32(64%) had adequate level of knowledge and 9(18%) had good practice. The findings of correlation show that diabetes mellitus patients had weak positive relation between knowledge and practice regarding lifestyle modification. The ‘r’ value is 0.14 as statistically significant. The mean and standard deviation of the level of knowledge and practice is 16.67±13.614 and 16.67±6.807 respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that knowledge towards lifestyle modification in patients with diabetes mellitus were generally good. However, the result of practice on lifestyle modification was not good enough. It is a responsibility of the nurses to create understanding on the lifestyle modification for diabetes mellitus to reduce further complications in the patient.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, knowledge, practice, lifestyle.