Clinical profile of type 2 diabetic patients in the selected area of Kannur, Kerala.

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, resulting defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both (WHO, 2011). Among the various types of diabetes type 2 is the most common form affecting approximately 90 to 95 percent of diabetics worldwide and accounts for most of the public health burden attributable to diabetes (Tuomilehto, 2006; Cox et al., 2004). Diabetes mellitus, with its attendant acute and long term complications, and the myriad of disorders associated with it, is a major health hazard. Attention must be paid not only to the treatment of diabetic patients but also in setting up of a complete infrastructure which would facilitate a holistic approach by enhancing knowledge, and thereby changing the attitude and practices of the patients. This study is an attempt to find out the signs and symptoms and clinical profile of patients. Personal interview and Clinical screening was done 300 subjects with the help of physicians in respective hospitals. In the present study majority (57.3%) of the subjects experienced extreme fatigue followed by polydypsia (excessive thirst) (44.0%), polyurea (excessive urination) (35.7%), polyphagia (excessive hunger) (32.0%), loss of weight (22.7%), joint pain (16.3%) and giddiness (13.7%). Blood glucose level of six percent of the diabetic patients were under the normal range of 80 to 110 mg/100ml and 60 percent of the subjects recorded normal BP level. Cholesterol level of women diabetic exceeded that of men, in both borderline as well as high risk groups, indicating that female diabetics were on a higher risk than male.