Clinical Characteristics and Glycaemic Control in Adults Living with Type 1 Diabetes: A 1-Year Retrospective Chart Review at Two South African Public Sector Tertiary Hospitals

Abstract Background : An estimated 11.8% of the South African population are living with diabetes. There is a paucity of data related to the clinical characteristics and glycaemic control in people living with T1DM within the South African public healthcare sector. Objective : To describe the clinical characteristics and glycaemic control of people living with T1DM in a public health care setting. Methods : The study was an observational study conducted at two tertiary public sector hospitals in South Africa by means of a chart review. The study involved adults living with T1DM treated with human insulin for 12 months prior to the date of informed consent. Results : A total of 224 patients with T1DM were enrolled, with 190 (84.8%) from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and 34 (15.2%) from Klerksdorp Tshepong Hospital Complex. One patient withdrew consent, leaving a total analysed population of 223. Of the 223 patients, 37 (16.6%) were controlled (most recent glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) < 7%) while the remainder 186 (83.4%) were uncontrolled (most recent HbA1c ≥ 7%). The mean age of the study group was 33 ± 9 years. The majority of participants were female (122 [54.7%]) and of black ethnicity (215 [96.4%]). The mean number of hypoglycaemic events per patient-year was 151.4 (SD ± 213.9). Diabetic ketoacidosis occurred more frequently in the uncontrolled group. Conclusion : The majority of patients in this study did not achieve target HbA1c, placing them at higher risk for long-term diabetes complications. Poor glycaemic control, leading to long term complications, as well as hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis adds further strain to the resource constrained public healthcare in South Africa.