Abstract

DO CLINICIANS SET GLYCEMIC TARGETS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS: AN APPRAISAL OF TWO TERTIARY HOSPITALS IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Ogbonna Brian O. * , Ejim Chukwuka E, Uzodinma Samuel U, Ikebudu Chiadichiem C, Orji Chima E and Oparah Azuka C

Abstract

Background: Strict glycemic control is vital to the management oftype 2 diabetes and their values are invaluable to appraisal of how wellthe patients are managed in any facility. Objective: The objective ofthis study was to identify the glycemic indicators used in the diseasemanagement and establish the patients’ values in the hospitals.Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted usingthe case files and folders of Type 2 Diabetic Mellitus (T2DM) patients.Study was conducted between April and October, 2014 to determinethe glycemic indicators used in the patients management. All the casefiles and patients folders identified were used for increased reliabilityof data. Data was analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The mean age of patients in hospital A and B were62.04±11.50 and 61.46±12.52 respectively. The population of patients in hospital A was35(41.7%) and 49(58.3%) females while that of hospital B was 173 (57.9%) males and126(42.1%) females. Systolic Blood Pressure (BP) was 135.96±21.65 for A and144.07±21.34 for B while the mean diastolic BP was 82.95±12.84 for A and 87.87±12.67 forB. The mean fasting blood sugar was 182.13±6.8 for A and 238.62±10.6 for hospital B while the mean random blood sugar was 262.74±13.3 for A and 341.61±11.9 for hospital B. Discussion: The key indicators used were systolic BP, diastolic BP, fasting and random blood sugar. There was poor immunization record. Conclusion: Findings suggest fairly controlled BP but poorly controlled FBC and RBCs. These predispose the patients on the long run to micro vascular and macro vascular complications with consequent increase in mortality.

Keywords: indicators, glycemic control, hospital, Type 2 diabetes, pharmaceutical care, Nigeria.