Diabetes management, dietary supplements use and the effect of coronavirus pandemic on diabetes patients in Serbia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant public health challenge in Serbia, mirroring the situation in other European middle-income countries. The aims of this study were to examine the disease-related characteristics and management of diabetes, as well as the prevalence of use of dietary supplements (DS) among diabetes patients in Serbia, and to analyze the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on DM patients in Serbia.

Methods

The study was carried out as an online, observational, cross-sectional study involving 422 adult diabetes type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) patients residing in Serbia.

Results

DM1 patients were more likely than DM2 patients to self-control glucose levels (p < 0.001). Almost one-third of DM2 patients (31.4%) did not know their HbA1c value. Polypharmacy has been reported by 9.7% of DM1 patients and 23.5% of DM2 patients. During the coronavirus pandemic increased anxiety levels for one-third of respondents was noticed. The prevalence of DS use among DM patients was very high (95.3%), with vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D and magnesium being the most commonly used. Women were more likely to use vitamin D (p = 0.001) and magnesium DS (p = 0.005) than men. Most patients (76.9%) faced limited access to healthcare services during the coronavirus pandemic with, sometimes, detrimental consequences. A significant portion of respondents (41.2%) consulted a pharmacist more often in 2021 than in previous years.

Conclusions

Special caution is needed regarding the potential interactions of DS with chronic therapy. To enhance diabetes care, Serbia needs more accessible mental health support, improved diabetes education, expanded CGM availability, and carefully planned emergency healthcare measures for chronic patients.

Keywords:

• Diabetes
• cross-sectional survey
• dietary supplements
• public health
• covid-19

Transparency

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

MV, JJB, MLP and NT contributed to the study’s conceptualization. MV and NT contributed to the development of the methodology. MV, JJB, DV and GP did literature research. All authors were involved in data collection. MV, JJB, MLP, GP, TD and JČP analyzed and interpreted the results. MV, MLP and NT were mainly involved in writing the manuscript. All authors approved the final submitted version of the manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the participants for their time completing the questionnaire in this study.

Data availability statement

The questionnaire used during this study is available from the corresponding author upon request.

Ethical statement

Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, approved the research protocol (Decision No 01-39/151/1).

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no funding for the conduct of this study.