Diabetes care and self-monitoring of type 2 diabetic patients in a rural district of West-Pomeranian Province

Introduction. Few surveys conducted in diabetic patients from rural regions show that in these subjects monitoring of diabetes is worse than in patients from urban areas. Objectives. To assess methods of diabetes care provided for type 2 diabetic patients residing in a rural region and methods of the patient self-monitoring of glycemia, blood pressure and foot self-care. Patients and methods. The survey was conducted in a rural district of West-Pomeranian province, in the primary health care center, where 279 type 2 diabetic patients were registered. Out of all patients invited to participate in a questionnaire survey, 168 were enrolled. The mean age of subjects was 67.2 ±9.9 years (range 46–91 years), diabetes duration of 8.2 ±6.6 years, and body mass index of 32.6 ±6.3 kg/m². Data concerning diabetes care and methods of the patient self-control of glycemia, blood pressure and foot self-care were collected. Results. The majority of patients (62%) were treated only by general practitioners, but 80% reported that they visited their doctors for diabetes treatment once a month. For 90% of subjects the term „HbA1c” was unknown. Only 40% of patients performed self-monitoring of glycemia, 55% – of blood pressure and 34% examined their feet. Conclusions. The vast majority of patients from a rural region in West-Pomeranian province is treated only by general practitioners. Despite quite frequent medical visits related to diabetes, education of patients is still unsatisfactory, which was demonstrated by patients’ lack of knowledge concerning the basic parameter of laboratory monitoring, HbA1c, as well as insufficient self-management of glycemia, blood pressure and infrequent foot exam.