Abstract:

Background: Diabetes has been reported with increasing frequency in patients on antiretroviral therapy. Globally it is estimated that 425million people live with diabetes aged 20-79years, 90% of who account for type 2 diabetes mellitus. People with HIV are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than people without HIV. Study suggests that some antiretroviral drugs may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in people with HIV. The prevalence of diabetes is 3.8% higher in HIV-infected adults compared with general adult’s population. Risk factors for diabetes in association with obese and overweight in people living with HIV consist of specific antiretroviral therapies including integrase strand inhibitors like dolutegravir. A growing body of evidence suggests that integrase strand inhibitors are linked to greater weight gain in people starting HIV Treatment.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among HIV infected individual at Bugando medical center. The study aim to provide useful information for the clinicians, and HIV service providers so that blood sugar will be tested before initiations of antiretroviral drug especially dolutegravir based regimen and controlled regularly after initiation of regimen.

Methodology. A hospital based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among HIV patients attending center for treatment and care clinic at Bugando medical center. The study targeted adult person (>18 years) on dolutegravir based regimen. Patients with documented diagnosis of diabetes were excluded from the study. Consecutive sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample of 290 participants.

Results: The average age of participants was 45.74 years and standard deviation was 9.73 years. The age were grouped into three categories which are 18-40years (n=86, 29.7%), 41-60years (n=189, 65.2%) and >61 years (n=15, 5.2%). The population studied was largely female (n=168, 57.9%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among HIV infected individuals on dolutegravir based regimen was found to be 5.5% in this study.

Conclusion: the prevalence of hyperglycemia associated with dolutegravir regimen was insignificant in this study and was contrary related with increased age, weight gain and comorbid diseases. Its therefore important for HIV care providers to monitor their client’s glucose regularly during clinic visits to ensure regular control of their glucose.