Challenges in the management of Type 2 Diabetes among native women in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

AimTo investigate Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management in native female patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MethodsNinety women from the outpatient diabetes clinic at Tawam Hospital, UAE, were interviewed face-to-face about how they manage their disease, using a structured questionnaire. Clinical values of the patients were extracted from medical records. ResultsThe mean age of the women was 57.5 (SD: 12.7) years and half of them were illiterates. Two-third of the participants had hypertension and/or high cholesterol. A majority reported to have received information about lifestyle modification but admitted low physical activity and unhealthy diet. Mean weight and BMI were 80.0 (SD: 17.2) kg and 33.5 (SD: 6.3) kg/m2, respectively. Although the majority were taught how to measure blood glucose, 46% considered self-measurement difficult. Oral antihyperglycemic drugs were used by 96% of participants, and 31% were also taking injections. Forty-nine percent had HbA1c values below 7% and the average was 7.7% (range: 4.9–14.1). Two-third had systolic blood pressure (SBP) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values within the target range. ConclusionDespite major challenges in T2DM management among native female patients in UAE, this study shows that one in two patients had an overall glycemic control that was acceptable.