Clinical characteristics and determinants of glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Fiji

Background: Glycemic control is the centre in diabetes management. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), glycemic control is associated with clinical determinants. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of poor glycemic control level and its clinical determinants among T2DM patients.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on the medical records of T2DM patients attending diabetes clinics at the three selected health centres in Suva, Fiji. Patients who met the following criteria were included in the study: adult T2DM >18 years old registered during 2011 to 2016; on treatment for >1year; had >4 clinic visits and; had a recent HbA1c result in 2017. Logistic regression analysis was performed. A p value of <0.05 was considered as significant.Results: There were 200 female (59.2%) and 138 male (40.8%) T2DM patients included in this study with a mean age of 56.5 years (SD = + 9.9). Majority have poorly controlled random blood sugar (RBS), 67.1% and fasting blood sugar (FBS), 63.0%. Two-thirds (65.4%) had co-morbidities. The proportion of poor glycaemic control (HbA1c <7%) was 77.2% with mean HbA1c of 8.6% (+ 2.04). RBS, FBS, cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were significant (p<0.05) determinants of poor glycaemic control.Conclusions: This study identified clinical determinants of T2DM patients that are highly associated with glycemic control. Health care workers managing T2DM patients should address these clinical determinants in order to achieve glycemic control.