ABSTRACT
Background & Objective: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus(DM) is a chronic disease. It isone of the important causes of increasing morbidity and mortality in India, which is now known as ‘Capital of Diabetes’. It affects all the major systems in the body bringing down the quality of life of the patient. Objective is to assess the Three - minute walk distance in patients and to compare it with the age and gender matched healthy controls. Methodology: A cross- sectional tertiary care Government hospital based study was conducted in forty diagnosed patients of type 2 DM taking oral hypoglycemics, aged between 40-60 years. All the patients were thoroughly interviewed by a well structured questionnaire, which included personal details as well as the history of complications. 3- Minute walk test was conducted, as per the standardized technique in diabetic patients as well as age and gender matched healthy controls. The distance was compared by applying unpaired t test. Results: The mean 3-minute walk distance in patients of type 2 DM was 139.55±54.90 meters as compared to controls which was 200.01± 45.40 meters. The decrease in distance was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus affects walking distance of the patient bringing down the quality of life. These findings are useful for targeting the importance of treatment of diabetes, which needs to be addressed with priority to improve the quality of life.