Asian Journal of Medicine and Health

Background: Diabetes is the most common non-communicable disease. Currently Diabetes Mellitus (DM) affects 240 million people worldwide. Pakistan belongs to high prevalence area having 6.9 million diabetics. Diabetes mellitus is 4^th leading cause of death in most developed countries with Pakistan ranking 7^th position in the list. Factors responsible for diabetes are of two types: modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors include smoking, eating habits and lifestyle and Non-modifiable risk factors include family history, obesity and stressful life.

Objective: To determine frequency of risk factors among diabetic patients visiting diabetic Research Clinic Nishtar Hospital Multan. To suggest the ways how to reduce diabetic disease.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the outdoor patients setting of Diabetic Research Clinic at Nishtar Hospital Multan from 22-5-2016 to 27-7-2016. 142 patients of diabetes mellitus were selected through convenient sampling technique. The data was collected  through a structured  questionnaire. Data was analysed through Microsoft Excel, using version 2016 for different variables. The data was calculated through frequencies and percentages.

Results: Out of 142 patients 71(50%) were males and 71 (50%) were females, 62(43%) patients were overweight, 98 (69%) patients had diabetes for more than two years, 65(45%) patients were suffering from Hypertension before Diabetes mellitus. There was no history of smoking among 102 (71%) patients while 73(51%) patients had stressful life.

Conclusions: In our study we found that hypertension, stressful life, eating habits and family history are the most common risk factors of diabetes mellitus.