The nature of Diabetes Mellitus requires
adjustments in lifestyles for it to be properly managed.
For it to be successfully managed for a long time, the
patient has to comply with variety of recommended
measures received through various avenues including
the mass media. This study aims to provide answers to
the enquiry regarding diabetic patients’ awareness to
mass media health information on diabetes and their
compliance to such information. Anchored on Health
Belief Model, a survey involving a sample size of 400
diabetic patients was conducted in a multi-stage
sampling technique. Findings from the study showed
that diabetic patients are moderately exposed to health
information on diabetes majorly through sources such
as interpersonal, television and the internet. Half of the
respondents indicated moderate level of compliance to
diabetic information received. Supporting this, a little
above half affirmed that their adherence to information
on diabetics is fair. The study recommended therefore,
that efforts should be made by concerned stakeholders
to initiate and promote behavioural changes in diabetic
patients. For this to happen, appropriate education and
training program should be provided, using a multi-
media approach, for all diabetic patients and their
relatives, to provide the patients with the necessary and
required knowledge and skills needed for the
management of the disease.
Keywords : Awareness, Compliance, Diabetes, Health Information, Patients, Southeast, Nigeria.