Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with poor glycaemic control have lower quality of life scores as measured by the Short Form-36

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to compare the quality of life based on the Short Form-36 (SF-36) between two different groups of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with glycaemic control: those with a glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level at or below 7.5 percent and those above 7.5 percent.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this cross-sectional study, a generic SF-36 questionnaire was self-administered to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Based on the HbA1c level, the mean SF-36 scale scores were compared. The analysis of covariance was used to obtain the adjusted mean scores of the SF-36 scales while controlling for age and duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>150 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were analysed. There were 63 (42 percent) women and 87 (58 percent) men, and their mean HbA1c level was 8.9 percent (SD 2.4 percent). When comparing the two groups of patients with different HbA1c levels, the adjusted means of four scales: physical health functioning, general health, social functioning and mental health, differed significantly between the two. The SF-36 scale scores in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were also lower than those of the SF-36 norms for the Malaysian population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with poor glycaemic control had lower mean SF-36 scores in physical functioning, general health, social functioning and mental health, and the SF-36 scores in these patients were also lower than the SF-36 norms of the Malaysian population.</p>

Effect of diclofenac sodium on increased menstrual blood loss associated with intrauterine contraception

The menstrual blood loss [MBL] was quantitatively estimated prior to IUD insertion in 50 females attending the family planning clinic. After insertion, the MBL was re-estimated monthly for 6 months and then after the 11th and 12th month post-insertion. Diclofenac sodium oral tablets [50 mg] were given at the onset of menses and for 5 consecutive days at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 12th month after IUD insertion. The MBL increased significantly after the unmedicated post-insertion cycles. With the medicated cycles, the MBL decreased significantly when compared to the preceding unmedicated ones. A beneficial effect on IUD-induced pain observed, no effect was found on the intermenstrual spotting. Side effects of medication were mild and did not necessitate withdrawal from the study