Are Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a University Hospital in Jeddah Achieving Treatment Goals

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide and is very debilitating. Studies have shown that adherence to treatment recommendations are rewarded with a decrease in diabetes mellitus - related morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to assess adherence to the American Diabetes Association treatment goals in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review study, between February and April, 2013, of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We included patients provided they were adults (≥ 18 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were regularly followed up at the outpatient clinics, and they have had the disease for more than one year. Results: We included 201 patients between 27 – 96 years old. Most patients had their blood pressure and creatinine levels measured during each visit, and close to half had their HbA1c levels measured twice in the last year of follow up. Approximately 55.10% of the patients achieved an LDL level < 2.6 mmol/L. A relatively small proportion of the patients had blood pressure measurements and HbA1c levels within the recommended guidelines (29.03% and 24.53%, respectively). Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is not very well controlled. This could be attributed to physicians’ factors and patients’ factors. Further studies to assess this issue are recommended.