Objectives Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health challenge in India, with increasing prevalence and substantial gaps in awareness, especially among nondiabetic populations. Understanding various factors associated with diabetes knowledge is critical for designing effective educational interventions. This study aimed to assess diabetes awareness among participants attending an urban health facility in North India, exploring associations with diabetes status, education, socio-economic position, family history, and other clinical and demographic factors. Material and Methods A cross-sectional study including 480 adults was conducted at a single UHTC (Urban Health and Training Centre). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, and diabetes knowledge were collected using a pre-validated questionnaire. A composite knowledge score classified participants into low (<60%), moderate (60-79%), and high (≥80%) awareness categories. Associations were analysed using Chi-square tests and multivariate analysis. Results The mean age was 38.7 years, with the majority aged 30-49 (47.9%), and 59% were male. Most participants had completed secondary education and were of lower-middle socio-economic status. Participants with diabetes (9.5%) demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels, with 43.5% classified as high awareness compared to 14.7% among participants without diabetes ( p <0.001). Education and socio-economic status were positively associated with knowledge scores ( p <0.001 and p = 0.013, respectively). A family history of diabetes was also linked to higher awareness ( p <0.001). No significant differences were observed by age, sex, or hypertensive status. Conclusion Diabetes knowledge in this urban cohort is closely linked to diabetes status, education, socio-economic factors, and family history. Persistent low awareness among non-diabetics and disadvantaged groups indicates an urgent need for targeted, accessible diabetes education programs to reduce the disease burden.
Rajpal et al. (2026) studied this question.