Healthcare seeking behavior and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary hospital

Purpose: To assess the relationship between healthcare seeking behaviors and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted among patients with type 2 diabetes from a randomized controlled trial conducted in a tertiary hospital, Bangladesh. Data on health center use, healthcare providers visited, self-monitoring of blood glucose, blood pressure, foot care, and physical activity were collected through structured questionnaires. Uncontrolled diabetes was defined as HbA1c ≥ 7%. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed. Result: Of the 265 patients (mean age 50.3 ± 9.9 years; 49.8% females), the majority (71.3%) had uncontrolled diabetes. More than one-third (34.9%) of the participants did not visit their physician or a healthcare center during the previous 3-months. Only 12.4% of participants checked their blood glucose, and 35.8% checked their blood pressure during the last week. Participants who did not visit a physician or a healthcare center during the past 3 months had twice the odds of having uncontrolled diabetes, compared with those who visited during the same period [OR 2.12, 95% CI (1.02–5.14), p = 0.04]. Conclusion: Regular consultation with a physician or visiting a healthcare center might help to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh.