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Adler AJ, Trujillo C, Schwartz L, Drown L, Pierre J, Noble C, Allison T, Cook R, Randolph C, Bukhman G. Experience of living with type 1 diabetes in a low-income country: a qualitative study from Liberia. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e049738. [PMID: 34667004 PMCID: PMC8527120 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While epidemiological data for type 1 diabetes (T1D) in low/middle-income countries, and particularly low-income countries (LICs) including Liberia is lacking, prevalence in LICs is thought to be increasing. T1D care in LICs is often impacted by challenges in diagnosis and management. These challenges, including misdiagnosis and access to insulin, can affect T1D outcomes and frequency of severe complications. Despite the severe nature of T1D and growing burden in sub-Saharan Africa, little is currently known about the impact of T1D on patients and caregivers in the region. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study consisting of interviews with patients with T1D, caregivers, providers, civil society members and a policy-maker in Liberia to better understand the psychosocial and economic impact of living with T1D, knowledge of T1D and self-management, and barriers and facilitators for accessing T1D care. RESULTS This study found T1D to have a major psychosocial and economic impact on patients and caregivers, who reported stigma, diabetes distress and food insecurity. Patients, caregivers and providers possessed the knowledge necessary to effectively manage T1D but insufficient community awareness leads to delayed diagnosis, often in an emergency department. Most patients reported receiving free services and materials, though the cost of transportation to clinic visits and recommended foods is a barrier to disease management. Many providers noted the lack of national T1D-specific guidelines and registries. Policy-makers reported a lack of prioritisation of and resources for T1D. These barriers, combined with scarcity and expense of appropriate foods, pose severe barriers for self-management of T1D. CONCLUSION T1D was found to have a significant impact on patients and caregivers, and informants identified several key individual and systems-level barriers to effective T1D care in Liberia. Addressing these concerns is vital for designing sustainable and effective programmes for treating patients living with T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma J Adler
- Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Global Noncommunicable Disease and Social Change, Harvard Medical School Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Celina Trujillo
- Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Partners in Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Laura Drown
- Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Global Noncommunicable Disease and Social Change, Harvard Medical School Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Christopher Noble
- Program in Global Noncommunicable Disease and Social Change, Harvard Medical School Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gene Bukhman
- Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Global Noncommunicable Disease and Social Change, Harvard Medical School Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Partners in Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Amutha A, Ranjit U, Anjana RM, Shanthi R CS, Rajalakshmi R, Venkatesan U, Muthukumar S, Philips R, Kayalvizhi S, Gupta PK, Sastry NG, Mohan V. Clinical profile and incidence of microvascular complications of childhood and adolescent onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes seen at a tertiary diabetes center in India. Pediatr Diabetes 2021; 22:67-74. [PMID: 32333449 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.13033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To study the clinical characteristics and incidence of microvascular complications among childhood and adolescent onset type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) seen at a tertiary care diabetes center in India. METHODS From our electronic medical records, we retrieved clinical and biochemical details of 4555 individuals with childhood and adolescent onset diabetes (diagnosed below the age of 20 years) seen between 1992 and 2017. T1DM was diagnosed if there was history of ketoacidosis or fasting C-peptide <0.3 PMol/mL and stimulated C-peptide <0.6 PMol/mL or if insulin treatment was required from the time of diagnosis. T2DM was diagnosed based on absence of ketosis, or fasting C-peptide ≥0.6 PMol/mL and stimulated >1.0 PMoL/mL, or response to oral hypoglycemic agents for more than 2 years. We calculated the incidence rates of retinopathy (presence of at least one definite microaneurysm by retinal photography), nephropathy (urinary albumin excretion ≥30 μg/mg of creatinine) and neuropathy (vibration perception threshold ≥20 V) per 1000 person-years of follow up. RESULTS Among the 4555 individuals with childhood and adolescent-onset diabetes, 71.4% had T1DM, 19.5% T2DM and 9.1% other forms of diabetes. Age at first visit and duration of diabetes were significantly higher in T2DM when compared to T1DM. The age adjusted incidence of retinopathy was 52.9/1000 person years (Confidence Intervals [CI]: 42.9-62.8) in T1DM and 49.8/1000 person years (CI 30.8-68.8) in T2DM; nephropathy, 6.2 (CI 3.3-9.0) and 13.8 (CI 5.6-22.0); and neuropathy, 8.8(CI 3.6-14.0) and 24.0 (CI 9.8-38.2) in T1DM and T2DM, respectively. CONCLUSION The incidence of microvascular complications is high among childhood and adolescent-onset T1DM and T2DM and these calls for more aggressive control of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandakumar Amutha
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | - Unnikrishnan Ranjit
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | - Ranjit Mohan Anjana
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | | | | | | | | | - Routray Philips
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | - Sengottuvel Kayalvizhi
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | - Prasanna Kumar Gupta
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | | | - Viswanathan Mohan
- Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
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