Online published on 4 September, 2021.
This cross sectional study aims to determine the prevalence of balance impairments among patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and also to find out gender specificity with balance impairments among diabetic patients. Data is collected from DHQ hospital, Abbottabad, Physiotherapy Clinic, Women Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Abbottabad, Jinnah International hospital, Abbottabad and from general population of Abbottabad, general population of Rawalpindi, Double Dispensary No.4 P.O.F hospital Wah Cantt, Pakistan. Study is carried out at Women Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Abbottabad. This study is done within the period of 6 months. Data was collected with the help of a questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS.200 diabetic subjects were included in this study; among them 56.5 %were females and 43.5% were males,50% belonged to Abbottabad and 50% belonged to Rawalpindi. 49% used insulin to control their hyperglycemic levels and 51% did not use insulin. 40% (80) used to have hyperglycemic level between 170-250mg/dl and 60%(120) used to have hyperglycemic level above 250 mg/dl. 67.5 % had numbness in legs,59% had trouble walking up or down inclined surface,34.5%had problem while standing still, 64% had balance lost while walking, 40.5% had fallen more than once in past year. 74% had light headedness or dizziness. 31% knocked down to unconsciousness. 73% suffered from frequent headaches. 46.5% had dizziness while watching moving object. Sudden changes in position worsened symptoms in 39.5% of the subjects. 31% suffered from head / neck trauma in past. 19.5% ever suffered from stroke. Total 128 subjects had balance lost while walking among them 73 were females, 55 males had balance lost while walking.35 females had balance lost while standing still and 34 males had balance lost while standing still. 200 patients included in study, in which there were 80 people with hyperglycemic levels between 170-250mg/dl; out of which 50 had balance lost while walking,which 30 had balance lost while standing still.120 people were with hyperglycemic level above 250 mg/dl; out of which 78 had balance lost while walking, 50 did not lose balance while standing still.It is concluded that most of diabetic subjects had balance lost while walking or standing still. Frequent headaches, numbness in legs and falls were common among diabetics. Majority of the population complained of difficulty getting up from chair,balance lost while walking or standing still,frequent headaches, numbness in legs and falls.Diabetic patients with hyperglycemic levels above 250mg/dl had higher prevalence of balance lost while standing still or walking. Females had higher prevalence of fall and balance problems than men.
Diabetes Mellitus, Balance, Impairments, Fall, Gender
