DIABETES IN FEMALES: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES
Keywords:
Diabetes Mellitus, female, knowledge, current practicesAbstract
Objectives: To assess the practices, attitude and knowledge of female patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) regarding
their disease.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study, involving 100 female patients with Type II DM, was carried out at a
General Practitioner clinic at the outskirts of Peshawar, from June to August 2007. All patients were asked a specific
set of questions using a questionnaire.
Results: Based on age, patients were divided in to Group A (>13-40 years) with 28 (28%) patients, group B (>40-60
years) with 66 (66%) and group C (>60 years) with 6 (6%) patients. Only 6 (6%) patients had received education up
to or above middle standard examination. Sulfonylureas were used in 77 (77%) patients. Patients who purely
consulted doctors for treatment were 80 (80%) and those who took homeopathic and hakimi medicines were 19
(19%). Diabetic diet was advised to 90 (90%) patients, exercise to 60 (60%) and hypoglycemic agents were
prescribed to 95 (95%) patients. Though 93% patients said that they were observing diabetic diet and were compliant
with hypoglycemic agents but results of glycemic control showed otherwise; fasting blood glucose was >126 mg/dl
in 86 (86%) patients. Eighty-nine (89%) patients had some knowledge regarding hypoglycemia, 69 (69%) patients
were checking monthly blood and urine glucose. HbA1C levels were not done by 99 (99%) patients, 94 (94%) had
never had their urine checked for albumin, 67(67%) had not measured their blood for cholesterol and 99 (99%) had
not checked their HBV and HCV status. Ninety two (92%) patients had felt a disturbance in their social life with the
onset of DM. Eighty-two (82%) patients had some complication of diabetes. Of these, hypertension and weight loss
were the most common (31% each). Ninety nine percent patients did not turn up for regular follow up of blood
pressure levels and 73% patients did not have regular check on their blood glucose levels.
Conclusion: Diabetes is uncontrolled in majority of the patients leading to complications due to lack of self
motivation, self learning and appropriate follow up.
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