Abstract

Type II Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by variable degrees of insulin
resistance, impaired insulin secretion and increased glucose production. It is estimated that each individual spends
79 USD to foot their bills and approximately 8000 Ugandans die of DM-related causes annually. Unfortunately,
some individuals have the disease but have not yet known and by the time it was identified, it will have caused
complications. This study was to assess the prevalence of DM Type II among patients who attend the medical ward
at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. Through a cross-sectional descriptive study using a quantitative approach, by
records audit, a total of 1100 patients who were admitted to the medical ward between October 2020 and March
2021 were reviewed. Results revealed that a total of 88 patients were suffering from Type II Diabetes mellitus which
gave a prevalence of 8.0%. The majority of the patients who had DM (54.6%) had diabetes-related complications.
DM Type II incidence risks began to increase from 45 years and reached its peak in over 60 years (28.4%). Also,
those living sedentary lives were found at higher risk. Common complications found to be associated with DM Type
II included hypertension (24%), Diabetic nephropathies (16%), ocular complications (14%) and diabetic neuropathy
(12%). It is recommended that the Ministry of Health intensify lifestyle and diet modification campaigns as well as
recruitment of health workers especially those skilled in DM management to improve accessibility so that risks of
late reporting with complications can be minimized.
Keywords: Type II Diabetes mellitus, Diabetic complications, Insulin, Glucose, Metabolic disorders