Effect of Gender and Risk Factors in Complications of Type 2 Diabetic Mellitus among Patients Attending Diabetic Clinic in Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar

Diabetes type 2 (T2D) had caused the loss of millions of lives all over the world. About 50% of the patients with T2D die because of cardiovascular disease (CVD), primarily myocardial infarction and stroke. Many of the leading risk factors for CVD coexist and act synergistically to increase cardiovascular events. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence, patterns, and certain predictive factors in the complications of T2D patients attending diabetic clinics at Mnazi Mmoja hospital. A total of 138 respondents made up of 58 females and 80 males within the age brackets of 30-40, 41-50, 51 – 60, and 61 above were recruited for this study. Data were analysed and interpreted based on certain predictive factors and variables, including smoking, alcohol, excessive salt intake, lipid intake, sedentary lifestyle, family history of diabetes, and hypertension, on how they relate to the development of complications of type 2 diabetes. Pearson Chi-Square test was used to compare the levels of significances. Probability values of less or equal to 0.05 were accepted to be significant. The combination of salt intake, sedentary lifestyle, family history of diabetes, and lipid intake was the commonest risk factor for developing complications of T2D. However, alcohol and cigarette smoking had the most negligible impact on developing complications in T2D. The result also shows the patients between the age bracket of 30 and 40 have more risk factors for developing complications. The result showed no gender difference in the number of risk factors. There was a statistically significant association between some of the risk factors (smoking, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, and salt intake) and the gender of respondents (p<0.05). Males smoked (43.8%) and consumed alcohol (32.5%) than females, while females were prone to a sedentary lifestyle (63.8%) and consume salt (82.8%) than males. On the other hand, this research showed that the significant complication for both males and females are numbness, pain sensation, and dry skin (diabetic neuropathy). Gender and certain predictive risk factors like salt intake, sedentary lifestyle, and family history of diabetes, and lipid intake are fundamental parameters to be tackled to reduce the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is a greater need now for awareness of the risk factors through effective health promotion in Zanzibar. Also, secondary prevention through regular screening, early detection, and appropriate treatment of chronic complications could reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by diabetes mellitus.