Abstract:

Background: The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is frequently not considered unit another medical problem occurs and hyperglycemia is found incidentally. Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus may pre-dispose late presentation and worsen the diabetes outcomes in which may pose a public health concern and costly public implications (4). It is therefore crucial to examine the burden and risk factors for undiagnosed diabetes or pre diabetes at district level to inform National Policy and National programs so that they can consider in the preventive measures.

The goals of this study was to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed DM, pre-DM and associated factors among people attending Usangi district hospital from September to October 2020.

Method: Hospital based cross sectional study convenient sampling was used where by 135 clients older than 18 years were invited to participate in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to record demographic information, clinical background, behavioral measurement and biomedical measurement. Fasting blood glucose of the subjects was measured at the time of the interview using a standardized Glucometer machine (GlucoPlusTMInc. Quebec, Canada); using capillary finger prick method.

Results: Among 135 respondents 17(12.7%) were newly diagnosed to have diabetes mellitus, however 97(72.4%) were found to have normal blood glucose levels. While 18(13.4%) were pre-diabetes gave the total no of case of pre-diabetes and DM to be 35 (26.1%). Family history (P=0.009), Age (P=0.01), HTN (P=0.00). Marital status (P=0.032), awareness of signs and symptoms of diabetes (P=0.05) and BMI (P=0.001), all these risk factors were significant.

Conclusion: The prevalence of undiagnosed DM in Usangi is substantially high this implies large number of patients has been diagnosed while in complication. Family history, obesity (BMI), Age, marital status, HTN, and awareness of diabetes showed significant association with the risk of developing DM.

Recommendation: To strengthening the diagnosis practices of diabetes mellitus as well as pre DM in health facility in order to detect early and give prompt treatment to reduce the complication related to DM.