Prevalence of poor glycemic control among elderly type 2 diabetes patients in rural India

Poor glycemic control remains a major public health problem among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in rural India. Therefore, it is of interest to assess poor glycemic control among 378 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes attending a rural health centre in Coimbatore. Data were collected using structured interviews and HbA1c measurements to assess glycemic status. Data show that 77.5% of participants had inadequate glycemic control with HbA1c levels above 7. A significant association was observed between longer duration of diabetes and poor glycemic control, while no significant associations were found with age, gender, education, treatment type, comorbidities, or health education. This study advances knowledge by highlighting a high prevalence of poor glycemic control among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in a rural setting. It identifies longer duration of diabetes as a key determinant, emphasizing the need for duration-focused glycemic management.