Glycemic control and its determinants among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Menelik II Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to explore the level of glycemic control and its determinants among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Menelik II Referral Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design was employed. The sample size was determined using a single proportion formula and 245 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were involved in this study. Systematic sampling method was used to select the study subjects. Standard questionnaire was used to collect patient’s biographic data, economic data, self-care activities, and patient compliance to medications. Summary statistics of a given data were calculated. Logistic regression model was used to measure the relationship between the outcome and predictor variable. Direction and strength of association was expressed using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. RESULT: More than three-fourth, 191 (80.3%) of diabetic patients had poor glycemic control. Poor glycemic control was found to be 7.03 times higher among diabetic patients with duration of 5–10 years (adjusted odds ratio = 7.03, 95% confidence interval = 2.7–18.6). Similarly, diabetic patients with a duration of above 10 years were poorly controlled their blood sugar level (adjusted odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.028–5.08) in comparison to diabetic patients with a duration of fewer than 5 years. It was also found that compliance with a specific diet was significantly associated with good control of blood sugar level (adjusted odds ratio = 3.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.24–11.13). CONCLUSION: The magnitude of patients with poor glycemic control was high. Duration of diabetes and non-compliance with diets high in fruits, vegetables, and diets low in fat and sugar were significantly related to uncontrolled blood glucose levels. Therefore, developing strategies targeted toward improving blood glucose control with special attention to diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with a duration of ⩾5 years and those who poorly comply with their diet was strongly recommended.