Prevalence and Determinants of Suboptimal Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Primary Health Care

Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the most critical global health issues. Mitigating diabetic complications resulting from insufficient glycemic control is a primary objective in diabetes care. Identifying the reasons for inadequate glycemic control is crucial for implementing effective therapies and preventing complications.

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 352 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at primary health care centers from January to April 2023. Patients were recruited using a multistage cluster random sampling technique. Data was collected to assess the frequency and determinants of suboptimal diabetic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A semi-structured questionnaire and clinical measurements were used for data collection. The glycemic control variable (good vs poor) was analyzed using bivariate analyses to evaluate demographic, clinical, and laboratory differences. R Studio (R version 4.3.1) was employed for data analysis. The variable of glycemic control (good vs poor) was analyzed using bivariate analyses to assess differences based on demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses evaluated predictors of suboptimal glycemic control.

The study comprised 352 diabetic individuals, of whom 150 (42.61%) had suboptimal glucose control. predictors of suboptimal glycemic control were: irregular follow-up (OR = 4.95, 95% CI 2.30 to 11.4, p = 0.001), poor medication compliance (OR = 4.49, 95% CI 2.24 to 9.28, p < 0.001), a positive family history of diabetes (OR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.43, p = 0.007), elevated serum creatinine levels (OR = 8.06, 95% CI 1.89 to 39.2, p = 0.006), and the presence of neuropathy (OR = 6.10, 95% CI 2.46 to 15.8, p < 0.001).

A significant percentage of diabetics in this research had inadequate glycemic control. Consequently, healthcare practitioners must address predictors to prevent illness progression.