• E P O'Sullivan, A Bhargava, M O'Callaghan, U Buckley, T De Faoite, K Moynihan, H Thabit, C H Walsh, and S Sreenan.
• Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. eoinposullivan@yahoo.i.e
• Ir J Med Sci. 2009 Dec 1; 178 (4): 401-6.

BackgroundPatients' awareness of the increased cardiovascular risk associated with their diabetes is poorly documented.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the awareness of diabetes complications among patients with diabetes in Ireland.MethodsPatients attending diabetes outpatient clinics in two teaching hospitals in different regions of the country were invited to complete a questionnaire.ResultsA total of 258 (59.3% male) patients completed the questionnaire; mean age 57.8 years. On questioning, 53.5% reported cardiovascular disease as a potential complication of diabetes, with awareness rates of 61.2, 17.1, 16.3 and 12% for retinopathy, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and amputation, respectively. Disappointingly, less than half of respondents felt that improvements in diet and exercise could potentially reduce their cardiovascular risk.ConclusionsAwareness of cardiovascular risk and knowledge of effective measures to reduce this were low in our study and an alternative means of education may need to be considered.

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