Awareness, practices and treatment seeking behavior of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Shimla

Manish Kumar Thakur; Amit Sachdeva; Abhinandan Sood; Bhagwan Dass Negi; Komal Ahire; Sanya Prem Macchan; Anand Vishal; Jitender Rana

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20251691

Authors

Manish Kumar Thakur Department of Endocrinology, AIMSS, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Amit Sachdeva Department of Community Medicine, IGMC, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Abhinandan Sood Department of Endocrinology, AIMSS, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Bhagwan Dass Negi Department of Endocrinology, AIMSS, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Komal Ahire Department of Endocrinology, AIMSS, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Sanya Prem Macchan Department of Endocrinology, AIMSS, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Anand Vishal Department of Medicine, RML, Delhi, India
Jitender Rana Department of Cardiology, AIMSS, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20251691

Keywords:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Rural-urban differences, Awareness and treatment

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health issue, with its management and outcomes influenced by socio-demographic factors, healthcare access, and diabetes-related knowledge. These factors vary between rural and urban populations, leading to disparities in disease progression and complications. This study explores the awareness, practices, and treatment-seeking behaviors of T2DM patients in Shimla, focusing on the differences between rural and urban populations.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Atal institute of medical super-specialities Shimla with 100 participants diagnosed with T2DM, consisting of 50 rural and 50 urban individuals. Data were collected through structured interviews and medical record reviews. Variables assessed included socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education, family structure), clinical characteristics (BMI, smoking habits), diabetes knowledge (symptoms, complications), and treatment-seeking behaviors. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and independent t tests, with a significance level of p<0.05.

Results: The results revealed significant differences between rural and urban populations. Urban participants had better diabetes-related knowledge, particularly recognizing symptoms such as unexplained weight loss (28.9% vs. 14.5%, p=0.04) and complications like kidney damage (64.4% vs. 34.5%, p=0.001). Urban participants were more likely to seek treatment due to complications (13.3% vs. 3.6%, p=0.04), while rural participants were more likely to seek care due to fear of complications (50.9% vs. 37.8%, p=0.09).

Conclusions: This study underscores the need for targeted diabetes education and healthcare interventions, particularly in rural areas, to improve disease management and reduce fear-based treatment-seeking. Addressing these disparities will help both rural and urban populations better manage T2DM.

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