Objetive:

To determinate the prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia and the use of drugs and medicinal plants in patients trated at the HECA LAB clinical analysis laboratory in Ciudad Ixtepec, Oaxaca.

Materials and Methods:

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out during the fourth quarter of 2021. A non-probabilistic sampling was carried out, for convenience, incluiding a total of 205 patients. Data collection was carried out by applying a structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic information such as age and sex. Patients with hyperglycemia were questioned about the consumption of medicines and medicinal plants. Glucose levels were determined using the Mindray semi-automatic clinical chemistry analyzer, model BA-88A. A glucose value greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl according to the WHO criteria was considered diabetic. Prevalence was calculated by formula, according to Aschengrau & Seage.

Results:

Of the 205 patients, 29% had diabetes. 8% were classified as prediabetic with a predominance of females. The most frequent age range was 54-65 years with 32%. 82% reported taking pharmacological treatment and 63% of those surveyed reported consuming medicinal plantas for the treatment of diabetes.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of diabetes in the studied patients was 29%. Oral monotherapy with metformin was the most frequent treatment, followed by the use of subcutaneous insulin. Eleven medicinal plants were referred, being moringa (Moringa oleifera), the most used. 18% did not receive pharmacological treatment. For this reason, it is necessary to establish timely health education interventions on lifestyle changes and adherence to pharmacological treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus; to achieve adequate management of the disease and avoid complications.