A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Features of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 With Respect to Duration of Diabetes

Objectives Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive beta-cell dysfunction. As diabetes persists over time, more pronounced symptoms like polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and complications like neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular issues may develop. Therefore, this study assessed the clinical symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes regarding the duration of diabetes. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in a secondary care hospital, using a non-probability convenient sampling method. Patients visiting the outpatient clinics were recruited in the study after obtaining informed written consent from them. The duration of the study was about six months from March 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024. A sample of 450 type 2 diabetic patients, aged 40-65 years, was included in this study. The study identified patients with type 2 diabetes by using their altered glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level recorded within the last 30 days, which reflects glycemic control. The demographic information, including age, gender, socioeconomic status, health condition, co-existing illnesses, and diabetes-related symptoms was also collected from the patients. SPSS software was used for data analysis. A chi-square and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to determine the association of clinical symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Results The study findings showed that the mean age was significantly higher in patients with diabetes for less than one year (60.44±15.88 years) compared to those with diabetes for one to five years (52.26±14.37 years) and more than five years (53.95±14.28 years) (p<0.001). The association of gender, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status with the duration of diabetes revealed a significant difference (p<0.001). Frequent urination was significantly more common in the less than one-year group 89(59.3%) compared to the one to five years 54(36.0%) and more than five years 11(7.3%) (p<0.001). Conclusion Diabetes mellitus is a very prevalent systemic disease, with various musculoskeletal and psychosocial symptoms. The frequency of these symptoms varies with respect to the duration of diabetes. In this study, we outlined the various symptoms of diabetes and their relation to the duration of diabetes. Among various symptoms, dyspnea, chest tightness, and muscle cramps increase with increasing duration of diabetes.