Comparisons of prevalence, knowledge and self-management of diabetes among unique ethnic minorities in Yunnan province

Objective To compare differences in prevalence, awareness, treatment, control and self-management of diabetes among four unique ethnic minorities in Yunnan province. Methods A representative sample of 5 532 ethnic minority residents aged ≥35 years were selected with multi-stage stratified random sampling from Naxi, Lisu, Dai, and Jingpo ethnic groups in Yunnan province.Information were obtained using a standard questionnaire and physical examination. Results Among the Naxi, Lisu, Dai, and Jingpo ethnic groups, the standardized prevalence of diabetes was 3.9%, 2.7%, 7.6%, and 4.3% and the diabetes awareness rate was 55.7%, 66.7%, 56.1%, and 41.6% ;among the diabetes patients identified, the treatment rate was 39.1%, 29.1%, 41.9%, and 30.8% and the control rate was 21.9%, 20.5%, 23.2%, and 12.8% for the 4 ethnic groups, respectively.The Dai residents had the highest prevalence rate, whereas the Lisu residents had the lowest (P < 0.05).The Lisu residents had the highest awareness rate, whereas Jingpo residents had the lowest (P < 0.05).The Dai residents had the highest treatment rate and the Lisu residents had the lowest (P < 0.05).Among all the diabetic patients, the rates of blood glucose self-monitoring was 55.0%, 12.5%, 39.7%, and 20.0% and the rate of compliance to anti-diabetic drugs was 60.0%, 41.7%, 82.1%, and 68.0% for the Naxi, Lisu, Dai, and Jingpo ethnic groups, respectively.The highest blood glucose self-monitoring rate was observed in the Naxi patients whereas the lowest in the Lisu patients(P < 0.05);additionally, the highest rate of compliance to anti-diabetic drugs was observed in the Dai patients, whereas the lowest in the Lisu patients (P < 0.05).There was no significant differences in taking diabetes control measures such as diet control, weight control or weight loss, and smoking cessation among different ethnic diabetic patients (P >0.05). Conclusion There are significant ethnic differences in diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment and self-management and the rate of diabetes awareness, treatment, control and self-management are at a low level among the Naxi, Lisu, Dai, and Jingpo ethnic groups in Yunnan province.