Glycaemic control amongst diabetic mellitus patients in Umuahia Metroppolis, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the level of glycaemic control among diabetic patients and to assess the relative associations with some diabetic complications. Subjects for this study were diabetic volunteers (diagnosed using the 1999 who criteria), who willingly granted their informed consent. They reported at the diabetic clinic of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia where their weights (in kg), heights (in metres), age of subject, sex, type and duration of diabetes mellitus and body mass index (BMI) were measured/calculated and recorded. The data obtained were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The student t-test was used and P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results show that only 38% of the subjects had good diabetic control while poor glycaemic control was seen in 62% of the subjects. Poor control was more prevalent among females than males and also associated with more diabetic complications than in subjects with good control. Thus, regular and prompt diabetic care is strongly encouraged to reduce the increasing prevalence of poor glycaemic control and the associated cardiovascular health burden.

Key words: Glycaemic control, Diabetes mellitus, Umuahia, Nigeria.