Shameni Sundram

Diabetes knowledge and control of glycaemia among type 2 diabetes patients in Penang, Malaysia

Objectives  To evaluate the general diabetes knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes and to assess the relationship of knowledge scores with the control of glycaemia by patients.

Factors associated with infections in diabetic population

Increase in the prevalence of diabetes worldwide and it becoming an epidemic has resulted in a clinical research shift to the management of diabetes mellitus globally. The study aimed to investigate the socio-demographic differences among diabetes patients with infection incidence. The study was conducted in an urban, governmental hospital in Penang Malaysia. The records of patients, more than and equal to age 18 years, who were admitted with diabetes mellitus between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010 were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 17®. This study was approved by the hospitals “Clinical Research Committee (CRC)” as well as “Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH)”. During the time period of January 2008 through December 2010, there were total 2174 diabetes patients admitted; 2174 (100%) patients’ charts were reviewed. Of the total, 1063 (48.9%) were males and the rest, 1111 (51.1%), females. Mean and standard distribution (SD) showed females have less mean age distribution (35.2 ±4.187 years) as compared to males (37.9±5.724 years). A total of 798 (36.7%) had infection exposure before and/or during hospital admission; statistical significance (p<0.001) was found in association of diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) and infection exposure. Though the rate of hospitalization increased among females, OR showed that males were more likely to get the infection severely as compared to females (1.81 (95%CI 1.1-2.40) p <0.021). Profound ethnic difference is three times more prone to severity rate of infection among Malay diabetic patients as compared to other non-Malays (OR 3.44 (95%CI 1.60-5.68) p<0.001). Further analysis showed that with the age of � 65 years and history of diabetes (mean ± SD: 27.13 ± 2.782) average patient utilizes 135.7 days (average) of antibiotic course. Increased and recurrent use of antibiotic was found among Malays; also Malays predominantly experience clinical manifestations (poor glycaemic control) as compared to other ethnics. Every third patient with diabetes mellitus had infectious exposure.