Factors associated with diabetes mellitus among outpatients at the internal medicine clinic: A cross-sectional study

Nanik Supriyanti (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bina Husada, Palembang, Indonesia)
Akhmad Dwi Priyatno (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bina Husada, Palembang, Indonesia)
M Prima Cakra Randana (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bina Husada, Palembang, Indonesia)
Arie Wahyudi (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bina Husada, Palembang, Indonesia)
Iis Martilopa (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Bina Husada, Palembang, Indonesia)

Lentera Perawat
Vol. 7 No. 4 (2026): October - December

Background: Diabetes mellitus remains a major public health concern in Indonesia, including among patients receiving referral-level outpatient care. Understanding factors associated with diabetes status in hospital outpatient populations may inform targeted screening and health education. Objective: To examine factors associated with diabetes mellitus among adult outpatients attending the Internal Medicine Clinic of Sungai Lilin General Hospital, Musi Banyuasin Regency, Indonesia, in 2026. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 99 purposively selected adult outpatients recruited between March 9 and April 9, 2026. The reported outpatient population in 2025 comprised 7,394 individuals. Diabetes status was obtained from medical records; sociodemographic, family-history, physical-activity, anthropometric, and dietary data were obtained from records and participant interviews. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and a food-frequency questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Of 99 respondents, 57 (57.6%) had diabetes mellitus. In bivariate analyses, age (crude odds ratio [OR] = 17.500; p = 0.001), lower educational attainment (OR = 4.600; p = 0.001), family history (OR = 29.179; p < 0.001), lower physical activity (OR = 2.750; p = 0.027), body mass index ≥23 kg/m² (OR = 3.403; p = 0.022), and dietary score category (OR = 0.198; p < 0.001) were associated with diabetes status; sex was not (p = 0.239). In the final multivariable model, family history (adjusted OR [aOR] = 37.221; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.064–152.844; p < 0.001) and lower educational attainment (aOR = 8.310; 95% CI: 2.043–33.810; p = 0.003) remained statistically significant. BMI was retained in the final model but did not reach statistical significance (aOR = 3.619; 95% CI: 0.865–15.138; p = 0.078). Conclusion: Family history of diabetes and lower educational attainment were independently associated with diabetes status in the final model. These findings support risk-oriented outpatient education and screening.