A national program of diabetes management is underway in Tunisia since diabetes prevalence is 10% among urban population.

Objective:
The aim of the study is to assess the NIDDM patients’ overall quality of life (QOL) for improved management of diabetes in public health settings.

Methods: 
During the month of July 1997, the study population was systematically selected among type2 diabetic patients (N=459) in University Hospitals’ External Consultations of the Capital Tunis. The study tool was a standardized questionnaire with 80 items relating to various aspects of diabetes management in addition to socio-demographic, anthropometrical, and biological measurements. The Nottingham health profile six areas were considered to measure the QOL of NIDDM patients: physical mobility, pain, energy, emotional reactions, sleep and social isolation. Inclusion criteria: age >30 years, age of diabetes >1 year, patients sampled were not suffering any diabetes complications.

Results: 
Quality of life was correlated with three vascular risk factors: hyperglycemia, high blood pressure and overweight. Results indicate: 36.6% of patients have one risk factor, 39.2 have 2 factors and 24.2% do have three. Poor QOL (p<0.05) was evidenced among patients with a higher number of vascular risk factors. However, the association of health behaviors (diet, physical activity…) other than medication intake, does improve patient’s QOL (p<0.05).

Conclusion:
These results prove the benefit of appropriate health behaviors and proper management of diabetes related risk factors to preserve a high QOL among type 2 diabetic patients.