POOR DIABETIC FOLLOW UP, A DILEMMA

Abstract

Objective: To determine status of prediabetes and diabetes mellitus (DM) by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in outdoor patients visiting a hospital laboratory of government hospital.

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and duration of study: Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Mardan from March 2015 to February 2016 in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi.

Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 294 patients reporting in department of pathology laboratory, Combined Military Hospital Mardan for their plasma glucose fasting levels.

Results: 294 adult cases were observed. Out of 124 males, 74 (59.7 %) were diabetic and 8 (6.5 %) fell in pre-diabetic range, whereas out of 170 females 100 (61.8 %) were diabetic and 4 (2.4 %) fall in prediabetic range. FPG of study population was 7.1 ± 2.8 mmol/L. There was a significant increase in mean plasma glucose levels in females with age [X2 (4) = 29.04, p < 0.001]. Diabetics on follow up showed poor follow up with mean of 8.5 ± 2.7 mmol/L in both genders with poorer follow up in females. Family history showed significant relationship with diabetes as 93 (87.7 %) out of 106 patients with family history of diabetes turn out to be diabetic. Whereas 85 (45.5 %) out of 187 patients with no family history of diabetes were also diabetic. [X2 (4) = 51.59, P <0.001].

Conclusion: Diabetes Mellitus in our study population has not been catered for in true spirit neither in diagnosis nor for its subsequent management as evident from raised glycemic levels.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Laboratory follow up.