Assessment of diabetic patient management at primary health care level

Objective The characterization of diabetic patients seen at a primary healt h care clinic. Methods The case notes of 3,024 families were searched by means of a cross- sectional study for patients 30 to 75 years of age with a diagnosis of diab etes mellitus who had had a medical consultation during the previous five y ears. These patients were interviewed at their homes and were asked to come to the health center for physical examination and a plasma glucose test us ing glucosylated hemoglobin (GH). Results The prevalence of diabetes was 4%. The typical diabetic patient was a white women, greater than or equal to 3 minimum wages. Compliance with G H was observed in 70% of the patients. Diet therapy was followed by less th an one third of the patients and only one fifth were engaged in regular exe rcise. Nearly 70% were undergoing drug therapy (oral hypoglicemic agents or insulin); of these, only 15% used insulin. Most of the patients (66%) who agreed to have the GH test showed normal of fair glucose blood levels. Conclusions Great efforts should be made by health teams to enhance diabeti c patient education in order to promote compliance with recommendations reg arding diet and exercise.