Determination of Blood Sugar Control Practices in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus During Covid-19 Pandemic Attending Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background: The Management And Control Of Blood Sugars Levels In A Diabetic Patient Is A Difficult Task And Entails A Number Of Measures To Achieve The Desired Goals. These Measures Are Complicated More By The Recent Discovery Of Covid-19 Pandemic In The Medical Field Making Management Of Most Chronic Illness A Tall Holder To Achieve. The Aim Of This Study Was To Find Out The Measures Which The Patients With Dm Attending Knh Diabetic Clinic Employed To Control Their Blood Sugar Levels During The Covid-19 Period. Objectives: The Broad Objective Of The Study Was To Determine What Blood Sugar Control Measures Patients With Dm Attending Knh Diabetic Clinic Employed To Ensure That Their Blood Sugars Were Under Control During The Covid-19 Pandemic. Methods: The Study Employed A Cross Sectional Research Design With A Structured Questionnaire And Also Review Of Participants’ Medical Records Was Carried Out To Determine The Patient’s Previous Blood Sugar Levels. Purposive Sampling Was Used To Select The Participants Of The Study. Results: A Higher Proportion (35.1%) Of Respondents Were Aged Above 60 Years, Females (58.3%) And Married (75%). Majority Of Respondents (87.5%) Were On Diabetic Diet. A Quarter (25%) Were Alcohol Consumers And About Half (46.5%) Of Them Reported To Have Stopped Alcohol Consumption During Covid-19 Pandemic. A Very Small Proportion (6%) Of The Respondents Were Cigarette Smokers And A Higher Proportion (40%) Decreased The Frequency Of Smoking During Covid-19 Pandemic. Single Respondents (26.7%) Had Higher Blood Sugar Levels Compared To Other Marital Status Groups (52.4%). Majority Of The Respondents Adhered To Who Covid-19 Preventive Protocols. Mean Rbs Was Lower During Covid-19 (8.60mmol/l) Pandemic Than Before (9.54mmol/l) Covid-19 Pandemic. Conclusion: Despite The Pandemic, There Was Adherence To Dietary, Hypoglycemic Agents And Who Covid-19 Preventive Protocols Among The Patients And Blood Sugar Levels Improved. This Shows That Health Care Providers And Facilities Should Uphold The Current Dm Treatment Protocols.