Abstract

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Diabetic Disease Pattern and Preventive Care in Lahore Pakistan

Author(s): Noreen Rahat Hashmi

Diabetes Mellitus is a major epidemic in Pakistan with associated increased morbidity and mortality however diabetic care is less than optimal. Most of the diabetic’s complications can be prevented by adequate preventive care strategies.

Objective: To assess diabetic disease pattern and preventive care practices of patients in Lahore Pakistan.

Methodology Study design: Cross sectional survey using convenient sampling of 181 patients from two hospitals in Lahore Pakistan. A pretested close ended questionnaire was used to collect the data.

Inclusion/Exclusion criteria: Type 2 diabetics diagnosed at least a year ago. Patients on insulin pumps, children and pregnant women were excluded. Data was entered into SPSS version 20.0 and chi-square was used to check the associations. P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: 

Majority of patients were in the age group 50-59 years, were females, had no formal education, and had family income of <20,000 rupees per month. Majority of respondents had diabetes for 2-5 past years and were on oral anti diabetic medication. Renal disease was cited as the most common diabetic complication. Majority of the patients were not seeing their physicians for diabetes management on regular basis and did not have their blood sugar, feet or eye examination regularly. Majority of the patients had no pneumonia or influenza vaccination, diabetes or nutrition counseling. Education and income were positively related with doctor visits for their diabetic care and its schedule.

Conclusions : Dbetic care management was sub optimal in our patients. Majority of patients were not visiting their physicians for their diabetic care regularly Education and income had a statistically significant positive relationship with scheduled visits to their physicians for their diabetic care. Strategies to improve the diabetic care including patient education as well as improving accessibility to health care resources should be implemented.