Self-Care Capacities of Diabetic Patients Monitored in the Internal Medicine Unit at the Kara Teaching Hospital (CHU Kara)

Objectives: To evaluate the practice of self-care in diabetic patients monitored at the Kara Teaching Hospital, known as CHU Kara. Method: We conducted a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 40 diabetic patients monitored at the Kara CHU. The data collection took place from February 20 to May 28, 2018 and the data was collected anonymously. Results: Out of the forty (40) respondents, 60% were male with a sex ratio of 1.5 and an average age of 56.15 years. Two-thirds (2/3) of the patients did not have the blood glucose meter. More than half (52%) did not know the normal blood glucose value and 82.5% were on a low carbohydrate diet. Eighty-two point fifty percent (82.50%) were under Oral antidiabetic (ADO). Forty percent (40%) of patients often forgot their medication. Forty-seven point-fifty percent reported frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia with dizziness (58%), tremors (53%), hunger (53%), sweat (37%), tingling (26%) and the most common gestures were: sugar ingestion (53%) and glycemic control (26%). Eighty-five (85%) said they used to feel hyperglycemia with fatigue (76%), polyuria (65%), polydipsia (44%) the most common precursors and the most frequent interventions were taking hypoglycemic drugs (74%) and controlling blood glucose (24%). Conclusion: The practice of self-care remains risky for diabetic patients. Hence the need for the establishment of adequate therapeutic education programs.