A hospital-based assessment of glycemic control and medication adherence in type 2 diabetes mellitus in Eastern Nepal

BACKGROUND: Poor glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes damage to various organs and leads to the development of disabling and life-threatening complications. OBJECTIVES: To find out the prevalence of glycemic control and medication adherence (MA) and the factors affecting them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM. The patients were categorized as good glycemic control (HbA(1c) <7.0%) and poor glycemic control (HbA(1c) ≥7.0%). MA was categorized as low (score <6), medium (score 6 or 7), and high (score 8). The Statistical Package for Social Science (version 11.5) was used for statistical analysis at a P value less than 0.05. RESULTS: Of 129 patients, 65 (50.39%) were females. The mean age was 48.33 ± 12.86 years. The combination of metformin and glimepiride was prescribed to 37 (28.68%) patients. Diabetic knowledge was poor in 84 (65.12%) patients. Glycemic control was good in 108 (83.72%) patients. MA was medium in 72 (55.81%) patients. Patients taking regular fruit, having shorter duration of drug therapy, and having good diabetic knowledge had good glycemic control and were statistically significant (P value < 0.05). Patients having family support, nonalcoholic, taking regular fruit, being involved in daily jogging, having shorter duration of drug therapy, and having good diabetic knowledge had high MA and were statistically significant (P value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of the diabetic patients had good glycemic control and medium MA. Patients taking regular fruit, being involved in daily jogging, having a shorter duration of drug therapy, and having good diabetic knowledge were identified as factors that affect both glycemic control and MA.