Impact of microvascular complications on quality of life in diabetic patients

Diabetes is a serious health concern all over the world. Among people with diabetes, a key factor influencing quality of life (QOL) is degree and nature of diabetes related complications experienced by the patients over a lifetime. QOL is important health related factor and one of the most widely used measure to self-assess the effect of the management of chronic disease on health and monitors the physical, psychological, and social aspects of personal health. This study is a prospective questionnaire based observational study which was conducted in a tertiary care hospital among diabetic patients using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and relevant information was collected. The domain wise scores are calculated. A total of 140 diabetic patients were included in the study of which 100 were with complications and 40 were without complications. The inference obtained this study was that nephropathy is the most common microvascular complication and affects the psychological and environmental status of subjects. We conclude that taking proper diabetic diet and self-care can prevent the worsening of QOL in patients with microvascular complications.