Gender Disparity in the Management of Diabetes among Residents of Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Gender has been shown to play a major role in the level of management of diabetes mellitus (DM) especially in this part of the world. This study therefore looked into the possibility and level of difference in the management of the condition among patients resident in Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The number of diabetic patients recruited for the study was 250 (aged 35 and above), comprising of 135 and 115 female and male patients respectively. A total of 5mL of blood was taken from the subjects after 10 hour fasting, out of which 3mL was centrifuged and the separated serum analysed for glucose. The remaining 2mL was analysed immediately for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C). Samples were collected over a period of eight months after which comparison of parameters between both genders was done in order to determine extent of diabetes management. There was a significant difference between the parameters of the female diabetic patients (Mean Fasting Blood Glucose, FBG = 189±82.30mg/dL; Mean HbA1C = 8.5±3.18%) and those of the male diabetic patients (FBG = 223±89.00mg/dL; Mean HbA1C = 9.8±3.39%). The glycaemic markers were significantly lower (though still within the diabetic range) among the female patients as compared with the male patients. Conclusively, the female patients had their diabetes better managed and controlled than their male counterparts.