IMPACT OF GENERAL EDUCATION STATUS ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN PATIENTS OF DIABETES MELLITUS

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the relationship of general literacy with control levels of HbA1c among the patients of diabetes at a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, form Dec 2017 to Jun 2018. Methodology: The sample population included patients of diabetes mellitus (DM) reporting for the routine checkup at medical Outpatient department (OPD) of Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) Rawalpindi. Serum HbA1c level was done after >8 hours of fasting and values were interpreted as normal reference percentages of excellent glycemic control 5%-6.5%, good glycemic control 6.6%-8% and poor glycemic control >8%. Relationship of education level was assessed with the glycemic control along with the age, gender and duration of diabetes mellitus. Results: Out of 190 patients included in the final analysis, 18.4% had excellent glycemic control, 36.8% had good glycemic control while 44.7% had poor glycemic control. After applying the chi-square, it was found that increasing age and longer duration of diabetes mellitus has significant relationship with glycemic control while level of education has no association with glycemic control in our study population. Conclusion: There was a high frequency of poor glycemic control among the patients of diabetes mellitus. Special attention should be paid to the older patients or those who have long standing diabetes mellitus.