Nutritional status, glycaemic control and barriers to treatment compliance among patients with type 2 diabetes attending public primary health clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. Issue 3 (2nd September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van den Berg, Louise; Mokhehle, Mohlakotsana; Raubenheimer, Jacques
• Is Part Of: JEMDSA. Volume 24:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2019-09-02
• Subjects: barriers to treatment compliance -- glycaemic control -- Lesotho -- nutritional status -- type 2 diabetes mellitus; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Diabetes -- Periodicals; Metabolism -- Periodicals; Endocrine System Diseases; Metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes; Endocrinology; Metabolism; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.1080/16089677.2019.1649341
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1608-9677

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To evaluate the nutritional status, glycaemic control and barriers to treatment compliance of outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attending two public primary health clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. Design : Cross-sectional analytical study. Setting: Lesotho Defence Force Clinic and Domiciliary Clinic. Subjects : 124 participants with T2DM, 30–69 years. Outcome measures : Sociodemography, medical history, diet, lifestyle, metabolic risk-related anthropometry, glycaemic and metabolic control, and barriers that may impact on treatment compliance. Results: Participants (53.9; SD 9.4 years; 79.5% females; 53.3% diagnosed for > 5 years) were knowledgeable about basic lifestyle recommendations for diabetes, and reported being active (98.3%). However, 88.5% were overweight or obese; 93.4%, 78.1%; 66.1% did not meet the recommended intakes of dairy, vegetables and fruit; 10.7% used tobacco; and 52% of men drank excessively. None performed blood glucose self-monitoring, and 90.2% were ignorant of normal blood glucose ranges, while 94.3% had uncontrolled hypertension despite being on anti-hypertensive medication. Participants were rarely screened for long-term glycaemic control or comorbidities, or referred to dietitians, but 98.4% were satisfied with the services. Conclusions: In this setting, patients were not meeting treatment goals for T2DM, and were not being screened or referred, rendering clinic visits a revolving door that poses the risk of costly complications.