Patients’ knowledge of causes, effects and complications of diabetes mellitus in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria

This study assessed knowledge on the causes, effects and complications of diabetes mellitus among patients in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The descriptive research design was employed for the study and two hundred (200) diabetic patients were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The researcher-designed content and face validated questionnaire that was subjected to reliability test; using test retest method was employed to gather data for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed that causes of diabetes do not include poverty and ignorance, but effects of diabetes are found to be sexual dysfunction and infertility, also prolong illness and sudden death were discovered as complications of diabetes mellitus among the patients in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. It was therefore, recommended that diabetic health education on the causes, effects and complications should be emphasized in our hospitals/clinics in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.