Health-related quality of life (hr-qol) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Quality of life is an important aspect in diabetes because poor quality of life leads to diminished self-care, which in turn leads to worsened glycemic control, increased risks for complications, and exacerbation of diabetes overwhelming in both the short run and the long run.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study is to examine the health-related quality of life of diabetic patients in rural India.


METHODS
This case-control study was done among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending Medicine Outpatient department of a 780-bedded rural medical college located in central India. We used the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - short version (WHOQOL-BREF) to assess quality of life.


RESULTS
The HRQOL among diabetics and non-diabetic controls is comparable to each other with bad physical health, bad psychological health, deteriorating social relationships, and bad environmental conditions affecting the HRQOL of both the groups equally. The overall HRQOL of the total study population (cases and controls) was poor.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of this study will help in health promotion in rural medical practice in India. It would beckon the much awaited avenue of holistic care of a diabetic patient with equal importance to the mental wellbeing and quality of life, as compared to physical well being.
Department of Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of medical sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
Vishakha
V
Jain
Department of Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of medical sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
Saumya
S
Shivkumar
Department of Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of medical sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
Omprakash
O
Gupta
Diabetes mellitus; HRQOL; Health-related quality of life; WHO-BREF