Introduction. In Poland during the last few years a systematical increase of new patients with diabetes mellitus entering renal replacement
therapy is noticed. Knowledge of self-control elements slow down time of making nephropathy, gives patients opportunity self control of
their life. It gives them to get autonomy and safety.

Aim of the study. The aim of research was to find out how is correlation between knowledge of patients about self-control
in diabetes mellitus and time of making nephropathy and analysis knowledge elements self-control dependent on education and
place of living.

Material and methods. The study was conducted with the method of diagnostic survey and a questionnaire technique was adopted. The
research was conducted among 60 patients in the Centre of Dialysis in hospital in Bielsko-Biala, Wadowice and Cracow.

Results. Egzamination results shown, that patients knowledge about self-control diabetes mellitus is not enough. Lack of specialist low level,
medical of education, too late diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, results in low level of self-control patients knowledge.

Conclusions. The research showed these results:

1. Excellent knowledge about self-control had 10 patients, good 13 patients, quite good 27 patients and 10 patients did not know anything
about self-control.
2. Patients who live in Cracow and Bielsko Biala have higher level of knowledge aboout self — control in diabetes mellitus than patiens who
live in Wadowice.

3. Education of patients influents on level of knowledge about self-control in diabetes mellitus.
,br>4. Knowledge of elements self-control influents on time of making diabetic nephropathy.