Diabetes is a chronic disease of life long duration, and its management requires a
fundamental change in the patient's life style. The success of long term maintenance therapy for
diabetes mellitus depends largely upon the patients' compliance with a therapeutic plan.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess compliance to therapeutic regimen of diabetics'
patients attending out-patient clinic and in-patient department at Assiut University Hospital.
Hundred patients were selected randomly from the previous setting, their age ranged between 20-
80 years, from both sex. Interview questionnaire were used for data collection, developed and
completed by the researcher for each subject to assess compliance of diabetic patients to
therapeutics regimen. It includes 3 parts, the first part, cover the sociodemographic data, the
second part, includes medical data history of associated disease, and the third part, includes
closed ended questions related to compliance of diabetic patients to therapeutics regimen as
compliance with dietary, treatment, exercise regimen, smoking cessation, periodic check up (eye
examination, blood pressure monitoring), periodic laboratory test for glucose in blood & urine
and self care practice. The results showed that, more than half of the patients 60% had good
compliance with dietary regimen, the majority of patients 78% had good compliance with
treatment regimen and 75% of the patients had good compliance for periodic check up for
glycemic status. However, 45%, 70% and 88% had poor compliance with foot care, smoking
cessation, blood pressure monitoring and eye examination respectively. It can be concluded that,
the majority of the patient had good compliance with diet, treatment regimen and laboratory test
for glycemic status while, the diabetic patients had poor compliance with smoking cessation,
blood pressure monitoring, eye examination and exercise program. Hence, it is recommended
that, every effort should be made to imitate and promote behavioral changes in diabetic people.
To achieve this, an appropriate education and training should be provided for all patients and
their relatives in a written booklet, in a sample language with posters about the managements and
prevention of diabetic complications. To improve compliance with therapeutic regimen,
collaboration of patients with the health team members is needed, and the compliance regimen
should be individualized, realistic, flexible, considering the patient's like and dislikes and must
suit the patients life style. Key words: Compliance, Diabetes, Therapeutic regimen.