ABSTRACT

Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders in which the body has a deficiency of and/or a resistance to insulin (Jarrett, 2008). In 2003, 194 million people aged 20 to 79 years worldwide had diabetes, but it is expected to increase to 333 million by 2025, a 72% increase. In 2006, the developing countries accounted for 141 million people with diabetes (72.5%) of the total world, (Narayan et al., 2010.). According to the International Diabetes Federation, it is expected that the number of people with diabetes will double in three of the six developing regions: the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for approximately 85 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes, (International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 2010). In United States, more than 13.8 million Americans have diabetes and Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% to 95% of the diagnosed cases with 800,000 new cases reported each year, (Silinik, 2007). In Australia, chronic diseases like diabetes now contribute to over 70% of the disease burden, and this is expected to increase to 80% by 2020 (Jordan et al., 2006). China with its large population of 1.3 billion has 30 million diabetic adults, while India has 35.5 million (Jordan et al., 2006).Nigeria has 3.5% of its population as diabetic (Chinenye et al., 2008). In view of the rate at which diabetes is now increasing, especially in developing countries, and with its long and short term complications, there is urgent need for diabetic patients to adhere and maintain the American Diabetic Association’s Clinical Practice recommendations of tight plasma glucose control of 80–120mg/dl for fasting glucose measurement, eat as recommended, perform other self care activities, and go for check up as necessary(Motilch et al., 2006). Some studies, Rubin (2005), Kolyango (2008) and Dey (2008) have recorded prevalence of non adherence to various aspects of diabetes treatment.