Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion, leading to hyperglycaemia (elevated blood glucose levels). It is linked to a high rate of disease burden, especially in underdeveloped nations like Nigeria. It is assuming a pandemic proportion globally, with a burden not only affecting the quality of life of individuals with the disease but also adding financial burdens to their families and the nation’s economy. Achieving good glycaemic control is the main aim of diabetes management. Yet, it has been found that most diabetic patients’ glycaemic levels are poorly controlled, largely due to a lack of commitment to lifestyle modification and adherence to medications. This study determined the effect of lifestyle modification and medication adherence on glycaemic control among type 2 diabetic patients among adult type 2 DM patients attending General Outpatient Clinic at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto. This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of 250 adults with type 2 DM Aged 18 years and above, selected using systematic random sampling over 12 weeks. The respondents’ diabetes lifestyle, medication adherence and glycaemic control were measured using the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ), Morisky Medication Adherence-8 (MMAS-8) and HbA1c index (glycated haemoglobin), respectively. Data were analysed using the International Business Machine Corporation Statistical Product and Service Solutions (IBM®SPSS statistics) version 26. A p-value of < 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant.  There was a 100% questionnaire response rate, and the mean age of the respondents was 54.4± 10.5, with a female majority (58%).. Among the study respondents, only (23.2%) had good glycaemic control. Clinical attendance, family history of diabetes, lifestyle modification and medication adherence were statistically significant at bivariate analyses. Both medication adherence and regular clinical attendance were statistically significant at the logistic regression level, hence independent predictors of good glycaemic control. The respondents with low medication adherence were 83% less likely to have good glycaemic control than those with high medication adherence (AOR =0.17, CI=0.05-0.65). Conversely, the respondents with medium medication adherence were 70% less likely to have good glycaemic control than those with high medication adherence (AOR= 0.30, CI = 0.15-0.59). The respondents who have unhealthy lifestyles were 46% less likely to have good glycaemic control than those with healthy lifestyles (AOR=0.54, CI= 0.29-1.01), although it was not statistically significant, P=0.52. The respondents with non-regular clinical attendance were 91% less likely to have good glycaemic control then those with regular clinical attendance (AOR =0.09, CI=0.811-3.065), respondents with family history of diabetes were 57% times more likely to have good glycaemic control then respondents with no family history of diabetes (AOR =1.57, CI=0.011-0.645). The findings indicate that influence of medication adherence and lifestyle modification on glycaemic control cannot be over-emphasized. Hence, family physicians and other health care providers should educate diabetes patients on lifestyle modification and medication adherence benefits to achieve good glycaemic control. This will ultimately improve the quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients.

Keywords: Medication adherence, Lifestyle modification and Glycaemic control.