Prevalence and knowledge, attitude, practices about diabetes mellitus among elderly people in urban slums of Puducherry India

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease which is prevalent globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of an alarming increase in the population with type II diabetes mellitus both in developed and developing countries over the next two decades. This study is aimed at estimating the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among the elderly persons residing in urban slums of Pondicherry.Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted with an objective to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diabetes, treatment and control of diabetes, among elderly persons (60 years and above) residing in an urban slum. A house to house community based study was carried out among a randomly selected sample of 202 persons aged 60 years and above, from urban slum of Pondicherry. Results: Total 202 participants were interviewed, 103 (53%) were males and 99(49%) were females. The prevalence of impaired fasting blood glucose is 6.9 (7%), while prevalence of diabetes is found to be 20.3%. A total of 181(90%) of participants have heard about Diabetes Mellitus while 10% have not ever heard about Diabetes Mellitus, while 155 (77%) participants agreed that regular exercise keeps diabetes under control while almost equal number 149(73.4%) agreed that people with DM should control their weight and 144(71%) dietary modification is useful for keeping DM in control. A total of 177(88%) did not know whether complications can be prevented by timely investigations while just 12% knew that it is possible to prevent complications of diabetes mellitus with timely investigation. 77% knew that regular exercise keeps diabetes under control but during the last one month 106(50%) either rarely or never participated in any moderate physical exercise.Conclusions: Strengthening primary health care services in urban slums, with special emphasis on vulnerable population like elderly persons, is needed. Non-communicable diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this age group, and deserve special attention of policy makers and programme managers