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Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. It is one of the major causes of premature deaths, which occurs on account of its complications due to uncontrolled diabetes. This demands an urgent need for strategies to control the emerging epidemic of diabetes. The objectives of this study were to estimate the proportion of poor glycemic control and to identify the factors influencing poor glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Puducherry district.

A community-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 340 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had the disease for at least six months of duration in Puducherry district. A list of individuals who underwent HbA1c estimation at the biochemistry laboratory of a tertiary care hospital was obtained prospectively. The eligible participants were contacted and visited at their residences. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical profiles.

The proportion of people with poor glycemic control was 217 (63.8%). Determinants such as age, place of residence, alcohol consumption, and treatment adherence were found to be associated with poor glycemic control. However, when adjusted for confounders, irregular treatment adherence emerged as the only independent factor associated with poor glycemic control (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 19.54; confidence interval (CI): 7.65-49.90, P-value = 0.000).

This study emphasizes the importance of treatment adherence at the primary care level in order to substantially improve glycemic outcomes and reduce diabetes-related complications.