Association between level of knowledge and self-care practices in diabetic patients at a health center in Lima, Peru

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a growing public health problem, and its control depends on patients’ knowledge and self-care regarding their disease. However, the relationship between knowledge and self-care practices may vary according to individual characteristics. Objective: To determine the association between the level of knowledge and self-care practices in adult diabetic patients attending a primary health care facility, considering differences according to sex and body mass index. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in 116 patients with diabetes using non-probabilistic quota sampling. Level of knowledge and self-care practices were assessed using validated questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed (Kruskal–Wallis test and Spearman’s rho), considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Females (59.5%) and overweight individuals (62.9%) predominated. A medium level of knowledge was the most frequent (43.1%). Self-care practices showed better performance in diet and medication use, and intermediate values in physical activity. In stratified analyses by sex and BMI, a strong positive association was observed in normal-weight men between level of knowledge and physical activity and rest (rho = 0.70; p = 0.02), as well as a moderate negative association between knowledge and medication use in overweight patients (rho = −0.50; p = 0.01). In the female group, stratified analysis using Spearman’s rho showed no significant associations between level of knowledge and self-care practices. Conclusions: Knowledge level was associated with specific self-care practices only in men, highlighting the influence of sex and nutritional status.