Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose with accompanying microvascular and macrovascular complications resulting in increased morbidity, mortality and reduce quality of life in an individual living with the disease. Studies have shown that tight glycaemic control contributes immensely to the reduce risk of microvascular complications, and to a certain extent macrovascular complications. Achieving tight glycaemic control is an important factor in the management of DM.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the glycaemic control in diabetes patients attending diabetic clinic in a tertiary hospital in south-West, Nigeria, using American Diabetic Association criteria for glycaemic target (HbA1c < 7%, Fasting blood glucose = 4.4–7.2 mmol/l).

Method: This cross-sectional study involved 212 subjects with DM, registered and already receiving treatment for diabetes for at least one year in a tertiary hospital, in South-West, Nigeria. Participants were interviewed using a structure proforma. Glycaemic control was assessed by measuring level of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0.

Results: The mean age of participants was 59.6 ± 12.3 years. Female constituted 65.1% of the study population while 34.9% were male. The mean fasting blood glucose was 8.2 ± 2.5 mmol/l while the mean level of glycated haemoglobin was 8.7 ± 2.3 %. About a third (34%) of the study populations had HbA1c less than 7% while 42% had FBG between 4.4 and 7.2 mmol/l. Two participants had FBG <4.4 mmol/l.

Conclussion: This study has demonstrated that poor glycaemic control is common among individual with DM. there is need to intensify diabetic education targeting benefit of good glycaemic control with the aim of preventing DM complications and reducing morbidity and mortality from the disease.

Keywords: Glycaemic control, Diabetes Mellitus, Glycated haemoglobin, Fasting blood glucose