Assessment of Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Gharyan, Libya

Abstract

 The present study aimed to assess the knowledge of diabetic patients regarding diabetes-related systemic and oral complications and to evaluate their attitudes toward maintaining good oral health and their oral hygiene practices, including regular dental visits. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Gharyan Educational Hospital, Gharyan, Libya, between November 2025 and January 2026. A total of 134 diabetic patients attending scheduled outpatient clinics were enrolled. The study found that 60.5% of participants were aware that diabetes increases the risk of oral disease, with a high awareness of xerostomia (91%). However, knowledge of specific complications was lower; only 46.2% identified dental caries and 42.6% identified oral fungal infections as related risks. Regarding systemic health, patients showed higher awareness of diabetic foot and eye complications than of nerve or kidney complications. While 73.9% of participants reported brushing their teeth, only 41.8% did so twice daily. Furthermore, 44.8% visited the dentist less than once a year, and 41% could not remember their last visit. The primary sources of information were diabetologists (52.9%) and various media (50%), with 98.5% of participants expressing a desire for more education on this topic. Diabetic patients in Gharyan demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge regarding diabetes-related oral health. While attitudes toward oral hygiene are generally positive, there are significant gaps in knowledge regarding specific oral complications. The findings suggest an urgent need to integrate oral health education into routine diabetic care and to strengthen collaboration between physicians and dentists to improve overall patient outcomes.