International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health

Awareness of correct blood glucose target among Type 2 diabetic mellitus patient attending diabetic centre of tertiary hospital

Introduction: Many patients are not aware of “treat to targets” concept in the management of diabetes mellitus. Most of them do not achieve the glycaemic control according to the standard guideline. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the percentage of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who are unaware of correct fasting blood glucose (FBG) target and its associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 460 Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending diabetes centre of tertiary hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia from July 2010 till September 2010. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to determine whether patients had target FBG. Patients were classified as having correct FBG target if their target FBG value was 6 mmol/L and less.

Results: The mean (SD) age of patients was 57.5 (9.37) year old. Majority were Malays and 192 (41.7%) were male with mean (SD) duration of diabetes is 9.9(6.55) years. About 46.7% of diabetic patients were not aware of correct fasting blood sugar target. The associated factors of unaware correct FBG targets were gender, insulin treatment and presence of diabetic booklet. Those who are on insulin or combination therapy has 1.6 times to be unaware [p=0.014, (95% CI 1.1, 2.4)]. Male was 2.0 times to have unaware target compared to female [p<0.001, (95% CI1.4, 3.0)] and having diabetic booklet was 2.3 times the odd to unaware of correct FBG target [p<0.001, (95% CI1.5, 3.5)].

Conclusion: Thus, it is imperative to educate patient on treatment target and improve the utilisation of diabetic booklet in order to help patient achieve glycaemic control.

Author(s): Juwita S , Suraya M , Azwany YN

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