Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic non-communicable disease that has been increasing in prevalence worldwide. Preventing and treating diabetes and its complications have been a burden in the health care system. Diabetic neuropathy is its frequent complication and in the long run, is associated with a negative impact on the functioning and quality of life. Hence, its early detection can prevent and delay its sequelae and improve patients’ quality of life. Objective: To determine the prevalence and burden of neuropathy among diabetic patients of Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) Family Medicine Diabetes Wellness Clinic Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. Patients at the EVRMC Family Medicine Diabetes Wellness Clinic from May to October 2020 were included. The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument was used to diagnose diabetic neuropathy. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine the association between socio-demographic profile and clinical characteristics among neuropathic patients. Results: Two hundred ten patients were enrolled. Majority were female (66.7%), ≥60 years old (58.1%), with vocational/college degrees (37.1%), unemployed (75.2%), did not have glycemic control (80%), had diabetes for ≤5 years (57.1%), and took two maintenance medications (46.7%). Biguanide was the most common maintenance drug (70.5%). Among diabetic patients, 30.5% had neuropathy. Statistically significant associations were seen in ≥60 years old [OR 1.92, p=0.04], with vocational/ college degrees [OR 2.17, p=0.01], and with diabetes for 6-10 years [OR 2.42, p=0.01] and ≥20 years [OR 5.07, p=0.01. Conclusion Diabetes Mellitus was prevalent in elderly age group, female gender, with vocational/college degrees, and unemployed. Most had uncontrolled sugar, had diabetes for ≤5 years, and took two maintenance drugs. Only 30.5% had neuropathy. Diabetic patients ≥60 years old, had vocational/college degrees, and had longer duration of the disease had higher odds of having diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies