Journal of Clinical Research

Factors Associated with Poor Glycemic Control Among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Attending out-Patient Clinic at Ndola Teaching Hospital, Ndola, Zambia

Abstract

Maggie Chikondo*

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycaemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. It is one of the most common non communicable diseases in Zambia and there is no cure for it. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among the non-communicable diseases worldwide. These are highly associated with a poor glycaemic controls. Hence, this study aimed at determining the factors associated with poor glycaemic control among diabetes mellitus outpatient at the Ndola Teaching Hospital, Ndola Zambia

Objectives: The main goal of this study is to determine or identify factors associated with poor glycaemic control among diabetes mellitus out patients at Ndola Teaching Hospital in Ndola.

Methodology: A hospital based cross sectional study with convenient random sampling was conducted on a total number of 92 participants. Data was collected through an interview using a questionnaire during hospital visits. The data was then analysed using SPSS V23. The prevalence of poor glycaemic control was calculated and the factors associated with it were deduced using chi square test.

Results: The factors significantly associated with poor glycemic control were lack of physical exercise, use of non-insulin medication, smoking and dyslipidaemia. Those who had regular blood sugar testing, following the recommended and attending the follow up meeting with the health care provider were less likely to have poor glycemic control so as those who did physical exercises.

Conclusion: Lack of physical exercises, not testing blood sugars regularly, dyslipidaemia and smoking were found to be associated with poor glycemic control. Staff managing DM patients should emphasize and include information education and communication sessions during the follow-up visits by DM patients on frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels, regular physical exercises and avoid smoking.

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