ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the clinical features of newly diagnosed diabetic patients in our community.

Methodology: This cross sectional descriptive study was carried out at Jinnah Teaching Hospital (JTH) attached to Jinnah Medical College (JMC), Peshawar on 100 patients. This study included type 2diabetic (T2DM) patients which were diagnosed within last 13 months, age 25 years and above, both genders, and Pakistani Nationals.  For each patient data on demographic features like age, gender, main signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were collected. Random blood sugar (RBS), and anthropometric measures like height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were computed in SPSS 20.0. The signs and symptoms at presentation were stratified among age groups and gender to see effect modifiers. Post-stratification Chi-square test was applied. P-value 0.05 was considered significant. 

Results: Of total 100 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients, 54(54%) were males and 46(46%) were females. The mean age was 40.7±10.36 years. The overall frequency of co-morbidities was 28%. The common clinical signs and symptoms were dryness of mouth (76%), polyuria and polydipsia (52%), acanthosis nigricans (44%), generalized body aches (28%), loss of tendon reflexes (28%), weight loss (28%), burning feet (27%), obesity (26%), burning micturition (24%), pruritus vulvae (24%) and blurred vision (21%).

Conclusion: Patients with dryness of mouth, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, acanthosis nigricans, generalized body aches, absent distal tendon reflexes (grade 0/4), weight loss, burning feet, obesity, burning micturition, pruritus vulvae and blurred vision should be screened for diabetes mellitus to avoid complications.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, signs, symptoms, newly diagnosed