Abstract

Background: Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the Persian Gulf region, accounting for most of the cases that lead to a decrease in life quality in diabetic patients. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in diabetic patients and the factors affecting it in patients of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study carried out in primary health care units and hospital of Majmaah from November 2017 to May 2018 to assess the QoL in randomly sampled diabetic patients aged 30-60 years in Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia. Patients with psychiatric illness, mental instability, physical and cognitive impairment, and gestational diabetes were excluded from the study.
Results: The study included 179 resident patients. Almost half of the patients (49.2%) had a bachelor's degree while near a quarter of diabetic participants had high school qualification (24%). There was no observed difference in the QoL between the groups, based on gender, in areas of functioning, except for the physical operation where a male had a vital superior physical functioning QoL compared to females (74.23 vs. 66.6, p = 0.037).
Conclusion: The results of the survey showed a moderate global QoL among the surveyed diabetic patients, similarly average QoL was observed in the three domains of physical functioning, social functioning, and work functioning. Our findings revealed the necessity to institute appropriate measures and interventions by health authorities to ensure better management of diabetics and ameliorating the existing QoL of patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, quality of life