Knowledge , Attitudes and Practices Survey in Management of Type 2 Diabetes by General Practitioners in Dakar

Introduction: Considering the global burden of diabetes and lack of specialist in diabetology in our subsaharian area, general practitioners (GPs) play a major role as first referent for care of diabetic people. The aim of this work was to describe knowledge, attitudes and practices of GPs related to management of type 2 diabetes. Patients and Methods: It was about a transversal and descriptive survey held between July 14, 2015 and November 1st, 2015 in the medical districts and public corporations of health of Dakar in Senegal. Results: The population of study was made of 107 males and 40 females GPs. The majority (82.8%) was graduated since less than five years. Hygienic and dietetic measures (HDM) were known and commonly recommended by 77.60% of GPs in their daily practice. The caloric intakes were known by 21.1%. The 30 min of physical activity per day three times in the week was advised by 91.20%. Monotherapy with metformine associated with HDM was prescribed by 76.90%. Bitherapy with metformine and sulfonylureas associated to HDM were prescribed by 39.50%. Concerning insulin therapy, mixed insulin twice daily associated with rapid insulin before lunch was prescribed by 49.7%. Use of rapid acting insulin with three injections before each meal was prescribed by 36.10%. Treatment of the other cardiovascular risk factors was addressed by 97.30%. Smoking cessation was advised by 37.40%. Use of sweetened drink and intravenous glucose were most adopted in case of hypoglycemia, and use of glucagon was adopted by 23.10%. To improve the diabetic retinopathy 61.2% of GPs recommended tight control of other cardiovascular risk factors. Rigorous glycemic control and regular physical activity were recommended for painful neuropathy beside analgesics. Smoking cessation was also recommended by 61.90% for that. Against obstructive arterial disease of the lower extremities, tight control of blood pressure was recomHow to cite this paper: Leye, A., Ndiaye, N., Diack, N.D., Ndour, M.A., Fall, B.C., Leye, Y.M. and Mane, P.O. (2017) Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey in Management of Type 2 Diabetes by General Practitioners in Dakar. Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 7, 294-301. https://doi.org/10.4236/jdm.2017.74024 Received: October 8, 2017 Accepted: November 5, 2017 Published: November 9, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/


Introduction
The dramatic increase in diabetes has occurred in all countries, and in rural as well as urban areas.According to IDF projections [1], an estimate of 415 million cases (uncertainty interval: 340 -536 millions) of diabetes among adults aged 20 -79 years in 220 countries and territories for 2015 was established.For 2040, it was estimated that 642 million (uncertainty interval: 521 -829 millions) people aged 20 -79 will have diabetes.Diabetes research includes trying to find a cure for diabetes, improving diabetes medication and diagnostics, and making the day to day life of people with diabetes easier to lead.
The epidemiological studies conducted in Africa show that the diagnosis of diabetes is often ignored (2 to 3 cases not diagnosed for each known case).This situation had been pointed out since first publications on diabetes in Africa [2].
In most case these patients present themselves with one of the complications of the diabetes already set up as shown in Senegal [3], where there is less than 10 specialists in diabetology for 14 million inhabitants.So, the general practitioners are the major actors in the global strategy for caring diabetic patients [4].The aim of this survey was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general doctors on management of type 2 diabetes with specific focus on managing hyperglycemia, other cardiovascular risk factors and degenerative complications prevention.

Investigation
It was an observational survey, transversal and descriptive nearby GPs of the medical districts and public establishments of health of the area of Dakar.After having presented the aims of the study to the persons in charge of structures in order to obtain their authorization of investigation, a questionnaire was selfmanaged with each GP.The investigation was constituted by a questionnaire form including questions with multiple choices.The questionnaire consisted of 2 parts, a first part on the socio-professional characteristics of the GPs (sex, seniority, place of exercise, previous training on diabetes) and a second part related to knowledges, attitudes and practices in managing of hyperglycemia, de-A.Leye

Statistical Analysis
The seizure and the data analysis were carried with the software EPI Info version 3.3.2.This software allowed to calculate the frequencies, the means and the standard deviations.

Socio-Professional Characteristics
On 170 questionnaires delivered, 152 had been recovered.

Knowledge of the Non Insulinic Treatments of Type 2 Diabetes
The main categories of antidiabetic medicines were known, however there were confusions between molecules, their side-effects and their counter-indications.
Metformin was regarded as sulfonylurea by 28.60% of respondents.Respectively 20 (13.6%), 16 (10.8%)and 14 (9.5%)GPs considered Glibenclamide, Gliclazide and Glipizide like biguanides.Only 1 GP had recognized Glipizide as part of the sulfonylureas.Hypoglycemia was regarded as side-effect of the biguanides by 44.90% of GPs and for 35.5% of GPs, the sulfonylureas were providers of digestive disorders.Table 1 summarizes the distribution of the GPs according to their

Practices of the GPs for Management of Hyperglycemia for Type 2 Diabetic Patients
One hundred fourteen GPs (77.6%) recommended the HDM during all treatment long.Seventy-five (51.0%) found that HDM could be enough to normalize glycaemia for a long time, and 58 GPs (39.5%) considered it as first line treatment.
For initial monotherapy prescription, 34.7% of GPs recommended to start metformin after failure of HDM and 76.9% considered the possibility to start Metformin at diagnosis at the same time with HDM.Use of sulphonylureas as possible monotherapy after failure of HDM was suggested by 11.6% of GPs and while for 19.0% of them, it was suggested as first line monotherapy at diagnosis at the same time with HDM.For 39.5% of GPs, the most recommended bitherapy was association of metformin plus suphonylureas.

Practices of Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes by GPs
Insulin was recommended when failure of non insulinic therapeutics was proven (87.80%) and in case of severe intercurrent infections (76.90%).Fifty-six doctors (38.10%) prescribed insulin when HbA1c was higher or equal to 9% and 55 among them (37.4%)prescribed it when the fasting blood glucose was higher than 3 g/L.
After failure of oral hypoglycemic agent, premixed insulin with 2/3 of total dose administrated in the morning and 1/3 in the evening associated with a fast acting insulin before lunch, was adopted by 49.7% of GPs.
For 53 GPs (36.10%), the regimen of insulin therapy suggested was rapid acting insulin three time per day, one injection before each meal then.

Knowledges and Practices of GPs in Management of the Degenerative Complications of Type 2 Diabetes
-Diabetic retinopathy One hundred thirty (88.40%) and 98 (66.70%)GPs had respectively recognized the maintenance of optimal glycemic balance and the maintenance of a stable blood pressure balance as factors to prevent diabetic retinopathy.Thirtysix doctors (24.50%) were aware of possibility of photocoagulation with laser.One hundred thirty-five (91.80%) had recognized that fundus examination of eye as soon as type 2 diabetes is diagnosed and then each year, as well the most optimal balance of glycaemia could allow an early tracking and the prevention of the diabetic retinopathy.Ninety GPs (61.20%) had considered that good control of cardiovascular risk factors could also allow a prevention of diabetic retinopathy retinopathy.
- -Diabetic kidney disease Concerning the measures adopted in the event of nephropathy, the maintenance of an optimal glycemic balance and the maintenance of a perfect blood pressure balance were recognized respectively by 135 (91.80%) and 102 (69.40%)GPs.For the maintenance of an optimal blood pressure control, the use of Angiotensine converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) was more frequently adopted (49.00% of GPs) than angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (34.70% of GPs).
One hundred thirty-three GPs (90.50%) and 123 (83.70%) recognized respectively that the strict control of glycaemia and blood pressure could help to prevent diabetic nephropathy.The reduction of food protein intake ration as a way to prevent diabetic nephropathy, was recommended by 44 (13.60%)GPs.
-Peripheral artery disease For the drugs used in case of obliterating arteriopathy of the lower limb, antiplatelet agents were mostly prescribed (81.60% of GPs) followed by arterial vasodilators (52.40% of GPs) and statins (46.90% of GPs).Obtaining a good glycemic control and the correction of a dyslipidemia were recommended by respectively 92.50%, and 81.60% of GPs for better management of peripheral artery disease.Tight control of glycaemia and blood pressure was also recommended by 69.40% of GPs.
-The diabetic foot One hundred twenty-nine (87.80%)GPs and 122 (83.00%) respectively adopted optimized insulin therapy and antibiotic therapy by general route.Prevention with tetanus vaccine was recommended by 80.30% of GPs.For the prevention of the diabetic foot, the daily hygiene of feet and the adequate foot wearing were applied by respectively 140 (95.20%) and 139 (94.60%) of GPs.The control of glycemic balance was also recognized by 136 (92.50%)GPs.
Other preventive measures had been recommended by 2.7% of GPs (self-inspection of feet, avoiding the exposure to sources of heat, never tearing off a scale, avoiding foot lesions).

Practices of GPs in Management of Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors -Hypertension
In first intention, 98 GPs (66.70%) adopted the treatment by ACE inhibitors of the and 18 GPs (12.20%) proposed associations of antihypertensive drugs.In second intention, 49 GPs (33.30%) proposed the use of ARBs. -Dyslipidemia The majority of GPs (86.40%) recommended statins and 85.70% of them in-

Discussion
Epidemiological studies made in our African areas emphasize on the significant role of the GPs in the global strategy of managing type 2 diabetic patients because of lake of medical doctors in general, and diabetologist in particular [4].
However, that should rest on clear and adapted therapeutic recommendations, taking into account the associated cardiovascular risk factors.It passes by improvement of initial university and post-graduate trainings as demonstrated in Algeria before [5].Only one half of our GPs had already received a specific postgraduate training on type 2 diabetes management.
The place of HDM in type 2 diabetes management is overall well-known by our GPs as in previous similar study in Senegal [6].Among them, 39.5% put forward the HDM associated with Metformin as first step of the treatment as recommended by ADA/EASD position statement [7].Monotherapy with sulphonylureas was seldom prescribed (19.00%).AMAR-AFO Study found that sulphonylureas were prescribed in 67.8% of monotherapy, including 54.5% for glimepiride and 13.3% for gliclazide [4].Only 7.76% of the GPs knew the existence of the incretin mimetics.This lack of knowledge could be explained by the absence of continuous medical training leading to lack of update about new therapeutics.Bitherapy combining sulphonylureas and metformine associated with HDM was prescribed by 39.50% GPs.This rate was higher the one found in Di-abCare Senegal study [6] in which bitherapy was prescribed only in 10.1% of the cases in dedicated centers to diabetes care.No other combination of bitherapy was proposed in our studies.It could be justified by lack of availability and/or affordability of other hypoglycemic classes (including incretin mimetics, glinides and glitazone) in our country.As well, fears and barriers for insulin therapy doesn't promote bitherapy with metformin and insulin, comparatively to oral hypoglycemic agents' combination, as recently recommended in international guidelines comparatively to previous ones [7] [8] [9].
The majority of GPs prescribed insulin in the event of proven failure of oral therapeutic (87.80%) and severe intercurrent infections (76.90%).
For all type 2 diabetic people, a comprehensive approach with multiple facets must be adopted to reduce the cardiovascular risk.Methods for vascular protec- et al.

Table 1 .
Distribution of the GPs according to their knowledge of the non insulinic treatments of type 2 diabetes.
5% Journal of Diabetes Mellitus knowledge of the non insulinic drugs.