Associations between diabetes self-management and microvascular complications among patients living in rural areas, in Kenya

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is a major public health concern worldwide. Low and middle8 income countries are the most affected. Diabetes self-management can significantly 9 reduce the burden of diabetes complications and mortality. 10 Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient department of a 11 county referral hospital in Kenya, from 1st August 2022 to 30th October 2022. Patients 12 with known type II diabetes of age ≥20 years visiting the hospital for routine follow-up 13 visits were included. A 7-tem Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities (SDSAC) 14 Questionnaire was used to assess Diabetes self-care activities. For data entry and 15 statistical analysis, SPSS for Windows version 27.0 was used. 16 Results: There were 96 (39.2%) males and 149 (60.8%) females. Most of the 17 participants were more than 61 years 148 (60.4%). Prevalence of Diabetes microvascular 18 complications among the study participants was 56.78%, 25.3%, and 14.7% for 19 neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy respectively. significant association was 20 found between the sum scale scores of dietary activities, blood glucose testing, physical 21 activity, foot care, and neuropathy at 95% CI and (P< 0.001). Scores on the Blood 22 glucose testing and foot care activities subscale were significantly associated with It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license . (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.02.16.24302931; this version posted February 18, 2024. The copyright holder for this preprint NOTE: This preprint reports new research that has not been certified by peer review and should not be used to guide clinical practice. 2 23 Retinopathy (p<0.001). Additionally, significant associations were found between the 24 presence of nephropathy and dietary activities, f00t care, and physical activity subscale 25 (p=<0.oo1). 26 Conclusions: Diabetes self-management activities have an impact on microvascular 27 complications in patients with diabetes.