Prevalence of Poor Glycaemic Control in Diabetics seen in a Tertiary Medical Centre

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of poor glycaemic control in otherwise clinically stable diabetic patients seen in a tertiary hospital.

It was a cross-sectional study of 64 type 2 diabetic patients and 32 healthy controls. Patients were randomly selected from registered diabetic patients of the hospital who came to the pathology phlebotomy room for routine fasting plasma glucose investigation; (prior to their regular diabetic clinic attendance). The controls were selected from amongst hospital workers and clients of the hospital on routine medical investigations. The fasting plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin were estimated, so also was urinalysis. The mean, standard deviation and standard error of mean (SEM) were calculated, so also were the frequency and percentages. Student ' t ' test method was applied as test of statistical significance.

53.2% of the patients had good glycaemic control, 31.2% fair and 15.6% poor glycaemic control. 46.9% glycosuria, 34.4% proteinuria and 9.4% ketonuria. 31.8% had no formal education and 46.9% had no knowledge of the type of drugs they were taking for the disease.

The prevalence of poor glycaemic control is high in type 2 DM patients seen in our hospital. More regular monitoring of FPG and glycated haemoglobin is recommended.