Background: Intensive glycaemic control reduces the risk of microvascular complications in persons with diabetes mellitus
(DM). Owing to limited data available, we aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) toward glycaemic
control among Ugandans with DM at two large tertiary healthcare facilities.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among persons with DM attending outpatient clinics at Kiruddu National
Referral Hospital (KNRH) and Mulago National Specialized Hospital (MNSH) between March and April 2022. Eligible participants
provided written informed consent and were recruited through a systematic sampling technique and relevant data was
collected using a pretested, interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire.

Results: Of the 452 participants, 318 (70.4%) were females. The median age was 52 years (IQR: 45-60 years), with more than
two-thirds diagnosed with DM at ≥36 years (69.8%, n=310). Overall, 274 participants (60.6%) had good knowledge on glycemic
control. At multivariable logistic regression analysis, good knowledge about glycaemic control was significantly associated with
having received training on glycaemic control (aOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.4 – 3.7, p=0.002), level of education: diploma (aOR: 4.3, 95%
CI: 1.1 – 17.8, p=0.042), degree aOR: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.0 – 23.1, p=0.046) compared to informal education, and nearest distance
from the health facility (aOR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.0 – 9.6, p=0.047)

Conclusions: More than half of the patients had good knowledge about glycaemic control and this was associated with level
of education, distance from the health facility and having received training. Further studies assessing the correlations between
actual level of glycaemic control and patient related KAPs are recommended.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; glycemic control; HbA1C; KAPs.