Abstract:

Background: Non-communicable disease are on a rapid rise globally and their effects are more profound in the developing nations which are still grappling with infectious disease. Diabetes Mellitus admissions are growing, increasing health problem that has received less attention in Tanzania. Studies elsewhere have demonstrated a significant proportion of Diabetes Mellitus which go unnoticed with resultant complications by the time a diagnosis is made. The proportion of undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus is likely to be higher in Tanzania but until to date we lack appropriate data in this area. Little is known about the prevalence of hyperglycemia within the hospitalized population who do not have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus constitute a challenge for health providers, especially in rural areas.

Objective: To determine the magnitude of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and correlated factors among inpatients in the rural community of Kasulu District.

Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study; convenient sampling was used, whereby 150 patients older than 18 years admitted in Kasulu District Hospital were selected. A structured questionnaire with open and closed ended questions was used to record demographical information, clinical background, behavioral measurements and biomedical measurements. FBG and RBG were measured at the time of the interview depending with the patient’s situation if was in fasting stage or not and repeated the next day by using a standardized Gluco Plus machine using capillary finger prick method. Confirmed DM made when two readings of FBG and RBG were 7 Mmol /1 and ≥ 11.1 Mmo1/1 respectively.

Results: Among 150 respondents who were tested, nine of them (6%) were diabetic, however, 125 (83.33%) were found to be normal while 16 (10.67%) were pre-diabetic, gives the total no of cases of pre & diabetic to be 25 (17%). Gender (p=0.036), Family History (p = 0.018) and leisure activities (p=0.047) were significant risk factor for DM and residence, Symptoms of Diabetes awareness, level of education, smoking, physical activity, oil consumption were not significant risk factors.

Conclusion: The prevalence of undiagnosed DM in Kasulu is substantially high, this implies that large number of patients are not diagnosed with DM before and after admission, which lead to late diagnosis of DM. In this study family History, gender and leisure activity showed significant association with the risk of developing DM. Furthermore, if routine and active screening for diabetes mellitus will be done among patients aged 18 years and above with risk factors may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.