<![CDATA[Dengan semakin tingginya angka kesakitan dan kematian akibat penyakit diabetes melitus (DM) tipe 2, maka pemahaman tentang faktor risiko dan upaya pencegahan penyakit diabetes melitus tipe 2 pada remaja sangat penting diketahui sedini mungkin, sehingga dapat mengendalikan faktor risiko DM tipe 2. Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi karakteristik dan pengetahuan mahasiswa/i tentang DM tipe 2. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif jenis survei cepat/rapid survey dengan desain crossectional. Subyek penelitian adalah seluruh mahasiswa/i Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan yang diperoleh dengan teknik simple random sampling (SRS) sebanyak 148 orang. Waktu Penelitian dilakukan selama bulan Oktober 2022. Analisis data yang digunakan berupa analisis univariat dengan menghitung distribusi frekuensi masing-masing variabel penelitian. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa karakteristik berdasarkan jenis kelamin responden paling banyak pada kategori perempuan yaitu 79,7%, usia responden lebih banyak pada kategori usia 21-25 tahun sebanyak 59,5%, suku lebih banyak pada kategori batak yaitu 62,2%, indeks massa tubuh yang tidak normal sebanyak 30,4%, responden yang memiliki riwayat keluarga sebanyak 15,5%, aktivitas fisik yang kurang terdapat sebanyak 22,3%, dan responden yang memiliki kebiasaan merokok sebanyak 16,2%. Responden yang berpengetahuan kurang terdapat sebanyak 43,2% dan yang berpengetahuan baik yaitu 56,8%. Perlu peningkatan pendidikan promosi kesehatan tentang pencegahan diabetes mellitus pada mahasiswa/i. Kata Kunci: diebetes melitus tipe 2, pengetahuan, karakteristik, mahasiswa With the increasing morbidity and mortality due to type 2 diabetes mellitus, understanding the risk factors and efforts to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adolescents is very important to know as early as possible so that they can control the risk factors for T2DM. This study aims to explore the characteristics and knowledge of students about T2DM. This research is a descriptive type of rapid survey with a cross-sectional design. The research subjects were all students of Universitas Prima Indonesia, Medan who were obtained by simple random sampling (SRS) technique as many as 148 people. Time research conducted in October 2022. The data analysis used was univariate analysis by calculating the frequency distribution of each research variable. The results showed that the characteristics based on the sex of the respondents were mostly in the female category, namely 79.7%, the age of the respondents was more in the 21-25 year age category, 59.5%, ethnicity was more in the Batak category, namely 62.2%, abnormal body mass index is 30.4%, respondents who have a family history are 15.5%, lack of physical activity are 22.3%, and respondents who have smoking habits are 16.2%. Respondents who had less knowledge were 43.2% and those who had good knowledge were 56.8%. It is necessary to increase health promotion education about the prevention of diabetes mellitus in college students. Keyword : type 2 diabetes mellitus, knowledge, characteristics, adolescents]]>
