Knowledge and Attitudes of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus toward Insulin Therapy in Erbil city: a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Knowledge and atti Insulin therapy plays a major role in controlling glycemic status tude of patients regarding insulin therapy is essential in better adherence to therapy. nObjective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of patients with T2DM regarding insulin therapy and to identify the influencing sociodemographic and clinical factors. Methods: A cross sectional project conducted in two primary public health centers (Azadi and Shadi centers) in Erbil city-Kurdistan region/Iraq in a period of 9 months from 1st of October 2024, to 30th of June, 2025onsample of 200 type 2 diabetic patients. The knowledge and attitude of patients were assessed by self administered questionnaire. Results: In current study, 49% of type 2 diabetic patients had good knowledge about insulin therapy and 51% of them had poor knowledge, while 33.5% of patients had positive attitude regarding insulin therapy and 66.5% of them had negative attitude. The poor knowledge about insulin therapy of patients was significantly related to single marital status (p=0.03), low educational level (p=0.003), obesity (p=0.03), low socioeconomic status (p=0.001), current DM treatment (p<0.001), hypoglycemic attack (p=0.03) and lack of family member or friend using insulin (p<0.001). The negative attitude regarding insulin therapy for patients was significantly related to low educational level (p=0.01), insufficient family income (p=0.003), current DM treatment (p<0.001), hypoglycemic attack (p=0.01) and lack of family member or friend using insulin (p<0.001). Conclusions: The type 2 diabetic patients in Erbil city have an acceptable knowledge regarding insulin therapy, while the attitude about insulin therapy is negative in high proportion of them.