Socio-economic characteristics and quality of life in diabetes mellitus - relation to metabolic control

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease with wide implications for well-being and social life. The aim of this cross-sectional, observational study was to describe possible differences in clinical characteristics, so cio-economic factors and quality of life between diabetes patients in poor and good/acceptable metabolic control, as defined by levels of glycated hae moglobin A(1c). From a population-based register of diabetes patients at a clinical chemistry department, we selected 96 subjects in poor metabolic co ntrol (HbA(1c) > 10%), and 96 subjects in good/acceptable (HbA(1c) 6.5 - 7. 5%) metabolic control, matched for sex, age and duration of diabetes. Each participant was sent a self-administered questionnaire regarding medical hi story, family situation and socio-economic background, as well as self-rate d health based on a validated instrument (SF-36). The diabetes patients in poor metabolic control reported more retinopathy, vascular complications an d nervous problems than did the patients in acceptable metabolic control. F urthermore, the group in poor metabolic control was also characterized by a lower educational level, a higher number of sick leave days or disability pension and a lower degree of physical activity. Both of the diabetic group s reported lower scorings for physical functioning, general health, vitalit y and mental health, than did a comparable non-diabetic group from another study. In summary, diabetic patients in poor metabolic control have a lower educational level and report more complications, nervous problems, sick le ave days and disability pensions than patients in good/acceptable metabolic control. The lower degree of physical activity adds to the problems of the first group and should be the target for intervention to achieve better me tabolic control.