METHODS: This 1-month cross-sectional study was conducted at an urban hospital-based primary care clinic in Malaysia. Patients with T2DM were recruited using systematic random sampling. Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Diabetes Symptom Checklist-Revised, which evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics, burden of diabetes mellitus-related symptoms in the past month and post-consultation feedback about symptoms. Data were analysed using SPSS.
RESULTS: Four hundred eighteen participants were included, yielding a response rate of 97.7%. Hyperglycaemia was the most prevalent symptom, with 48.1% of the participants reporting a frequent need to empty their bladder. Most participants experienced a low symptom burden, so 56.7% did not report their symptoms to their doctors. The participants who reported their symptoms had a higher symptom burden. Among them, 97.5% indicated that their doctors addressed their symptoms. Approximately 78% reported satisfaction and good coping skills when their symptoms were addressed.
CONCLUSION: Hyperglycaemia was the most prevalent diabetes mellitus-related symptom among the patients with T2DM. The symptom burden was generally low, so most patients did not report their symptoms to their doctors. Those who reported their symptoms had a higher symptom burden. Further studies must explore why patients do not report their symptoms and how doctors address patients' symptoms.