| Summary: | Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. === OBJECTIVES: To determine perceived Quality of Life (QOL) of the diabetic patient and
to assess whether QOL is associated with diabetes-related markers.
DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross sectional study.
SETTING: A multiethnic group of type 1 and 2 diabetic patients (n= 68) attending a
diabetic clinic in Alberton, South Africa, were evaluated.
SUBJECTS OUTCOME MEASURES: QOL was assessed by means of the Audit of
Diabetes-Dependant Quality of Life (ADDQoL) questionnaire. Glycaemic control, duration
of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), type of DM, diabetic complications, level of education and
nutritional status were evaluated.
RESULTS: Ninety eight percent of diabetic patients perceived their DM to impact
negatively on their QOL (p=0.03). QOL and glycaemic control were significantly (p=0.03)
related. QOL and the duration (p=0.80) or type (p=0.77) of DM were not significantly
related. QOL ratings were lower in participants who had hypertension and hyperlipidaemia,
whereas this trend was not present in those with microvascular complications. There was a
trend towards a negative relationship between QOL and weight (p=0.10), BMI (p=0.10)
and WC (p=0.41). All 13 individual life domains were significantly related (p < 0.05) to
QOL for the group as a whole. Rankings of individual life domains differed between type 1
and type 2 diabetics (p<0.05) as well as between black and white subjects (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: These results show that DM impacts on various aspects of QOL and
that various population sub-groups perceive their DM to impact differently on their QOL.
QOL assessments should therefore form part of DM management and should be culturally
sensitive.
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