Glycaemic Control amongst Persons with Diabetes Mellitus in Benin City

Abstract

Objective: This study set out to find the level of glycaemic control amongst persons with diabetes mellitus in Benin City.
Methods: Forty two persons with diabetes had their glycaemic control assessed by measuring the level of their glycated haemoglobin. Other data collected included age, sex, duration of diabetes, type of diabetes, weight, height, body mass index and waist hip ratio.
Results: There were twenty four males and eighteen females in the study population. Thirty one subjects had type 2 diabetes, while eleven had type 1 diabetes. Nineteen subjects(46%), had poor glycaemic control (HbAic > 7%) while twenty three (54%) had good control (HbAic £ 7%). Thirteen males (54%) had good control while ten females (53%) had good control and this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Eighteen of the thirty-one
type 2 DM subjects (58%) had good glycaemic control, while five persons out of eleven with type 1 DM (45%) had good glycaemic control and this was not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This study has shown that poor glycaemic control is common amongst persons with diabetes mellitus in Benin City. Studies have shown that good glycaemic control prevents and delays the complications of diabetes mellitus. We therefore recommend that health education on the benefits of good glycaemic control should be given in diabetes clinics, and efforts intensified to achieve target glycated haemoglobin levels to prevent diabetes complications.

Niger Med J. Vol. 51, No. 4,Oct. – Dec., 2010: 164 – 166.

Keywords: Glycaemic control, Diabetes Mellitus, Benin City