Introduction:

Knowledge concerning risk factors and self-care methods in patients with diabetes mellitus is considered an essential element in their effective treatment.

Objective:

To assess the knowledge level concerning risk factors and self-care methods in patients with diabetes mellitus and neuropathic ulcer.

Method:

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 135 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and neuropathic ulceration from November 2018 to November 2019. All patients registered in two different family doctor’s office associated to the Policlínico Universitario “Dr. Rudesindo Antonio García del Rijo” in Sancti Spíritus. Variables studied were: age, sex, knowledge level concerning risk factors and self-care methods.

Results:

The outcomes were summarized on a table to be assessed, which revealed female sex patients aged 60 to 70 years as predominant to suffer type 2 diabetes mellitus. An inadequate knowledge concerning the most outstanding risk factors was the cause of arising cardiovascular disease. The most well-known self-care measure was to maintain an effective treatment for diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions:

Female sex patients aged 60 to 71 years were most assessed being predominant. The most predominant aspects of ignorance found in the study were the family history associated to diabetes mellitus and the ignorance related to self-care measures, mainly on the practice of personal hygiene.

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