Diabetic control among NIDDM patients in urban and rural areas in Malaysia
Ruzita, A.T.; Osman, A.; Fatimah, A.; Khalid, B.A.
Medical Journal of Malaysia 51(1): 48-51
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5283 PMID: 10967979 Document Number: 455530
63 patients (51+or-10 years old) with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) living in rural areas and 59 NIDDM patients (50+or-12 years old) living in urban areas of Malaysia were studied. Anthropometric data were collected and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1) and fructosamine concentrations were examined. After adjusting for gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and food intake, fructosamine concentrations (which correlate with short-term diabetic control) were lower in urban patients compared with rural patients (P<0.05). However, for longer-term diabetic control (HbA1 concentrations) there was no difference between rural and urban patients. Socioeconomic status, level of education, BMI and types of food did not correlate with diabetes control in rural or urban patients. It was concluded that more diabetes education is required together with socioeconomic development and changes in lifestyles to improve diabetic control in Malaysia.