Treatment to targets in type 2 diabetics: analysis of out-patients practice at a remote Western Nigerian hospital

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Tight control of diabetes in the outpatients will reduce complications and hospitalizations. This study of Nigerian patients with diabetes examined the adequacy of glycemic and BP control in line with current guidelines. A 4 month retrospective analysis of type 2 diabetics attending Medical Outpatients Department (MOPD) of Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria between June and September 2008 was carried out using medical records of the patients. SPSS 13 software was used to analyze data. Data are expressed as mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) and frequency expressed as a percentage where necessary. A total of 308 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, aged between 35 and 85 years were analyzed. Their mean age was 60.90 ± 11.60years. There were 125 males (40.6%) and 183 females (59.4%) giving an M: F ratio of 1:1.46. Mean duration of clinic attendance was 26.18 ± 24.46 months. Glycemic control was achieved in only about a third of the patients (29.3% and 32.5% using IDF-Europe and ADA criteria respectively). Blood pressure control was achieved in 24.5% and 48.7% had BMI ≥ 25kg/m2. No correlation between mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and body mass index (BMI). Frequencies of insulin and low dose aspirin use were low (5.3% and 37% respectively). The results from this study showed poor control of blood glucose, BP and weight in the patients. We are of the opinion that current practices are not aggressive enough to manage a substantial proportion of type 2 diabetes patients. KEY WORDS: Diabetes mellitus; Glycemic control; BP control