Self-management of diabetes and treatment compliance among diabetic patients attending a tertiary care hospital, tripura

Background: Self Management of Diabetes and compliance to treatment has a strong correlation with glycaemic control and prevention of complications. There are inter-state variations in relation to the above and paucity of literature particularly from North Eastern states of our country. Hence, the study was conducted to assess the self-management practices and compliance to treatment among diabetes in Tripura.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted in a Diabetic Clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Tripura among diagnosed patients of type 2 DM who were > 18 years and attending diabetic clinic. Purposive sampling was used. Information regarding knowledge about diabetes self-care and compliance was assessed using standardized Chennai Urban-Rural diabetes questionnaire. Data was analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.0 (SPSS 20.0).
Results: Most common cause of diabetes as reported by the study participants was family history (36%), followed by consumption of sweets, obesity, decreased physical activity. Although 41.5% respondents had the knowledge about increasing physical activity to keep DM under control, only 34% were engaged in physical activity. Twenty-one percent of them missed their medicine often. Only 8% inspected their foot regularly.
Conclusion: Even in presence of significant knowledge regarding the disease and its complication, the current study reported significant lacunae in the practices in relation to self-management and compliance to treatment among the diabetic patients. Thus, imparting and re-enforcing them regarding the best practices for diabetes management and self-care becomes the key to address these lacunae.