Gender differences and factors associated with glycaemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Madhesh Province, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Glycaemic control (GC) is crucial for preventing complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and remains a major public health challenge in Nepal, particularly in Madhesh Province. Evidence on gender differences in GC and their associated factors is limited. This study examined gender-specific variations in GC and determinants of good GC among adults with T2DM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults with physician-diagnosed T2DM in Madhesh Province. GC was assessed using fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Good GC was defined as FPG 80-130 mg/dL and poor GC as >130 mg/dL, following American Diabetes Association criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics, and gender-stratified binary logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with good GC. Results: A total of 492 individuals with T2DM (256 males and 236 females) were included. Overall, 59.3% achieved good GC, with a slightly higher proportion among males than females (60.5% vs 58.1%). Among females, good GC was significantly associated with age ≥35 years (adjusted OR (aOR) 20.81; 95% CI 8.96 to 48.28; p