Health Education and Diabetes Self-Management Among Outpatients in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Self-management support is a cornerstone of effective diabetes care, and health education is central to equipping patients with the knowledge and skills required for daily management of the condition. This study assessed the impact of health education on diabetes self-management among outpatients at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design was used, with 160 type 2 diabetes patients attending the endocrinology clinic recruited and assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a structured eight-week health education programme covering blood glucose monitoring, dietary management, physical activity, and foot care. Pre-test and post-test data were collected using the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. Paired t-tests and chi-square were applied. Results showed significant improvements in self-management knowledge, glycaemic monitoring practices, and dietary behaviour among experimental group participants (p less than 0.05). Medication adherence also improved. The study concluded that structured, clinician-supported health education significantly enhances diabetes self-management outcomes and recommended embedding health educators in the endocrinology outpatient team at teaching hospitals across Nigeria. Keywords: diabetes self-management, health education, outpatients, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria