Abstract: Type 2 diabetes is a public health problem and one of the most common life threatening conditions globally, due to its related complications that are usually very costly to treat, with increasing number of people being diagnosed with this condition each year. Presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risks in Type 2 Diabetes patients increases the risk to complications. The objective of this study was to determine characteristics of type 2 diabetes patients and their association with MetS and associated cardiovascular risk. The study employed a cross section design method. Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes were recruited for the study from Thika Level Five Hospital in Kenya. Socio-demographic, clinical and lifestyle data were obtained using questionnaires. The nutrition status was determined by anthropometry. Other laboratory parameters that were determined included total cholesterol (TC), high density cholesterol (HDL-c) and low density cholesterol (LDL-c), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C), and blood pressure (BP). Overall 153 (40.5% men and 59.5% women) Type 2 diabetic patients aged 20-79 years were included in the study. The overall mean age of patients was 56.07 years. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 86.3% as per WHO criteria. The MetS components were elevated waist circumference (WC, 90.8%), increased waist hip ratio (WHR, 86.9%), elevated blood pressure (65.7% & 72.5%) and elevated triglycerides (64.8%). The prevalence of occurrence of the components of the MetS was not significantly different among male and female patients except for WC, BMI and reduced serum HDL-C where women were at a significantly higher risk than men (P≤0.00.). The current study showed that income was associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure (BP), secondary education and years lived with diabetes were associated with elevated TG, while occupation showed some association with high WHR. Additionally Gender, marital status and type of residence were associated with elevated HDL while education, family history of diabetes and alcohol intake was associated with obesity. The prevalence of the MetS and associated cardiovascular risk among Type 2 Diabetes patients was high and similar among males and females. Enhanced surveillance on Mets and associated cardiovascular risk in Type 2 Diabetes in addition to application of preventive measures are critical in order to reduce the risk of macro vascular complications as well as increased cardiovascular risks in Type 2 Diabetes patients.Abstract: Type 2 diabetes is a public health problem and one of the most common life threatening conditions globally, due to its related complications that are usually very costly to treat, with increasing number of people being diagnosed with this condition each year. Presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risks in Type 2 Diabetes pati...Show More
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the association between years of nursing practice and knowledge of insulin therapy among nurses in Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, The Gambia. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 127 randomly selected trained nurses. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20. A total of 127 nurses participated in this study but 118 completely filled and returned the questionnaires making a total response rate of 93%. The mean years of experience of nurses was 3.86 ± 4.051 years with a minimum of 1 year (20.3%) and maximum of 23 years (0.8%). Most of the nurses were females (n = 66, 55.6%), had a diploma in nursing (n = 75, 63.6%) and working at the surgical department (n = 47, 39.8%) respectively. The majority (n = 93, 78.8%) of them had never attended an in-service training on management of diabetes. The majority of nurses rated their knowledge of diabetes as good (n = 72, 61%). Despite this self-rating, 114 (96.6%) of them would like to receive extra training on insulin therapy. Eighty-six percent (n = 102) of the nurses knew the normal range of fasting blood sugar level and 98.3% said that blood sugar level should be checked prior to administering insulin (n = 116). However, most of them did not know that a blood sugar level of less than 70 mg/dl in a diabetic patient is classified as hypoglycaemia (n = 77, 65.3%). There were significant mean differences of the nurses’ years of experience in relation to their willingness to attend an in-service training on DM management and knowledge of sign and symptoms of hypoglycaemia (p < 0.05). The majority (87.3%) and (91.5%) of the nurses practiced injection site cleaning and priming of the insulin syringe respectively. However, 33.1% (n = 39) of the nurses do not wash their hands and only 4.2% (n =5) of them reported checking for expiry date prior to giving insulin injection. In addition, 72.9% (n = 86) of the nurses reported administering insulin injection in the arm. The nurses with more than four years of practice were more knowledgeable on the requirements of effective insulin administration than those with two years or less practical experience. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for an educational intervention on diabetes and insulin therapy for the nurses in EFSTH.Abstract: The purpose of this study was to measure the association between years of nursing practice and knowledge of insulin therapy among nurses in Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, The Gambia. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 127 randomly selected trained nurses. Data were collected using a self-administered que...Show More
Abstract: Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with a system in the body, due to various factors, characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperlipidaemia, due to a lack of secretion or ineffectiveness of insulin secreted by the pancreas. Diabetes Mellitus patients should perform various management therapies for Diabetes Mellitus to prevent complications and control the stability of blood sugar levels. The therapy can have physical and psychological effects. The psychological effects that can be felt one of them are anxiety. This study aims to determine the description of anxiety levels in patients with Diabetes Mellitus in the area of Djazariyah family doctor Kendal District. Method: quantitative descriptive method. The measuring tool used is a questionnaire of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale consisting of 42 questions. The sample was 37 respondents. Results: Most Diabetes Mellitus patients experienced mild anxiety. Discussion: Further investigators are recommended to use the modified Depression Anxiety Stress Scale questionnaire to make it easier for respondents to understand and answer questions.Abstract: Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with a system in the body, due to various factors, characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperlipidaemia, due to a lack of secretion or ineffectiveness of insulin secreted by the pancreas. Diabetes Mellitus patients should perform various management therapies for Diabetes Melli...Show More