A study of diabetic subjects: Common symptoms, treatment, artificial sweeteners and snack consumption

Abstract

A total random sample size of 351 diabetic subjects in the age group of ≥20 years representing rural and urban area of Ludhiana district were selected to determine the symptoms experienced by them, treatment undertaken to manage diabetes, artificial sweetener and frequency of snack consumption by them. It was found that significantly (p≤ 0.01) higher number of rural diabetic subjects were suffering from symptoms of diabetes. Significantly (p≤ 0.01) higher percentage of rural diabetic subjects were not taking medicine for managing diabetes. It was also observed that use of artificial sweeteners was significantly (p≤ 0.01) higher among urban women. Frequency of snack consumption was found higher among urban diabetic subjects. It was observed that majority of the subjects rural (59 per cent men, 67 per cent women) as well as urban (68 per cent men, 78 per cent women) did not have any kind of diet restriction of sweet, sugary products or refined flour products in everyday life so they were eating everything without any restriction.