Socioedemographic determinants of glycaemic control in young diabetic patients in peninsular Malaysia

Recent studies have shown that good glycaemic control can prevent the devel opment of diabetic complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We wished t o observe the glycaemic control in patients from different centres in Penin sular Malaysia and the factors that determine it. We recruited 926 patients with diabetes diagnosed before age 40 years from seven different centres, with proportionate representation from the three main ethnic groups. Clinic al history and physical examination were done and blood taken for HbA(1c) a nd fasting glucose. The overall glycaemic control was poor with geometric m ean HbA(1c) of 8.6% whilst 61.1% of the patients had HbA(1c) greater than 8 %. Glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes varied between variou s centres and ethnic groups, with the best control obtained in Chinese pati ents. Significant predictors of HbA(1c) in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes include access to nurse educators, ethnic background and WHR. In type 2 dia betes, use of insulin was a significant predictor, while in type 1 diabetes , household income was a significant predictor. Socioeconomic status did no t have a significant effect in type 2 diabetes. There were no significant d ifferences in the glycaemic control in patients with different educational status. In conclusion, glycaemic control in big hospitals in Malaysia was p oor, and was closely related to the availability of diabetes care facilitie s and ethnic group, rather than socioeconomic status. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.