New data reveal why physicians and people with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on basal insulin are reluctant to intensify insulin therapy

PR62716

VANCOUVER, Canada, Dec. 2 / PRNewswire=KYODO JBN / --

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    Results from the Perceptions of Control (POC) study showed that people with

type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on basal insulin were reluctant to intensify

insulin therapy due to concerns such as medication side effects, perceptions of

getting sicker and not wanting to add more injections. Physicians' concerns

around insulin intensification included a lack of patient agreement to

intensify insulin therapy, hypoglycaemia and patients' cognitive status.[1]

Findings from the Perceptions of Control study which evaluated the perceptions

of diabetes control amongst patients and physicians were presented today at the

World Diabetes Congress of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

    "A better understanding of how patients and physicians make decisions

around insulin intensification could significantly improve communication during

consultations and help people with type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled on basal

insulin, to intensify treatment when needed," said Meryl Brod, PhD, lead

investigator of the POC study. "Addressing patient concerns with additional

information and treatment options may lead to an increased number of patients

agreeing to change their treatment to get into better control."

    The POC study results showed that people with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled

on basal insulin were apprehensive to intensify therapy and initiate

basal-bolus insulin despite their physician's recommendation due to factors

such as fear of weight gain caused by the medication (45%), feeling they were

getting sicker (44%), fear of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) (41%) and not

wanting to add more injections (41%).[1] In total, over half (57%) were only

somewhat or not at all willing (39% somewhat / a little willing, 18% not at all

willing) to add one additional daily injection of bolus insulin to help control

their type 2 diabetes and 37% were concerned that the regimen would be too

complicated.[1]

    Physician study participants reported that the primary reason they were

reluctant to intensify insulin therapy for people with type 2 diabetes

uncontrolled on basal insulin was due to thinking their patients would not

agree (62%).[1] Physicians were also reluctant to intensify therapy due to

concerns around hypoglycaemia (46%), especially if it was particularly

dangerous in a patient's workplace (54%).[1] Physicians were also concerned

about recommending intensification if a patient had a mental illness or altered

mental status (48%),[1] poor cognitive skills (46%) and concerns of patient

compliance (41%).[1]

    About the Perceptions of Control (POC) Study The POC study was based on

information collected from a web survey of 300 physicians and 1,012 adults with

type 2 diabetes uncontrolled on basal insulin (physician-confirmed HbA1c＞ 8%

(64 mmol/mol)) from the UK (n=100 physicians and 620 patients), Sweden (n=100

physicians and 240 patients) and Switzerland (n=100 physicians and 152

patients). Information was also collected from a control group of 295 adults

with type 2 diabetes controlled on basal insulin (physician-confirmed HbA1c

＜7.5% (59 mmol/mol) from the UK. In total, data were collected from 1,607

patients and physicians for analysis.[1]-[3] The purpose of the study was to

explore how physicians and people with type 2 diabetes define control, identify

obstacles to achieving control,[2],[3] perceive the impact of uncontrolled type

2 diabetes on daily life[2],[3] and reluctance to intensify insulin therapy.[1]

    About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more

than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has

given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat

other serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity.

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 40,300 people in

75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more

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    Further information

    Media:

    Katrine Sperling             

    +45 4442 6718    

    krsp@novonordisk.com

    Asa Josefsson                

    +45 3079 7708    

    aajf@novonordisk.com

    Investors:

    Peter Hugreffe Ankersen

    +45 3075 9085    

    phak@novonordisk.com

    Daniel Bohsen  

    +45 3079 6376  

    dabo@novonordisk.com

    Melanie Raouzeos

    +45 3075 3479  

    mrz@novonordisk.com

    Kasper Veje                  

    +45 3079 8519    

    kpvj@novonordisk.com

    Frank Daniel Mersebach (US)  

    +1 609 235 8567  

    fdni@novonordisk.com

     _______________________

    References

    1) Brod M, Pfeiffer KM, Barnett AH, et al. Patient/physicians inertia in

insulin intensification for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes using

basal insulin. Poster presentation (1081-P) at the International Diabetes

Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Congress, 1 December 2015.

    2) Brod M, Pfeiffer KM, Barnett AH, et al. Perceptions of control among

type 2 diabetes patients treated with basal insulin. Poster presentation

(0742-P) at the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes

Congress, 1 December 2015.

    3) Brod M, Pfeiffer KM, Barnett AH, et al. Perceptions of diabetes control

among physicians and patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes using basal

insulin. Poster presentation (0741-P) at the International Diabetes Federation

(IDF) World Diabetes Congress, 1 December 2015.

SOURCE: Novo Nordisk