The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recently reported results from two online surveys that included 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), diagnosed one to five years ago, and 1,004 physicians.
Results from the“The Perspectives in Diabetes Care” surveys showed different perspectives that separate adults living with T2D and endocrinologists, primary care physicians and other health professionals. The surveys were conducted with support from Sanofi US.
Results revealed that patients with T2D are more interested in taking action to reach their average blood glucose (A1C) targets, compared to what physicians and other health professionals thought.
Specifically, the surveys’ results indicate that although 57% of the T2D patients said they were very willing to visit the doctor and other health professionals more often, only 19% of the doctors and other health professionals thought so.
Additionally, the results showed that 52% of adults with T2D would be very apt to make multiple treatment modifications — but only 16% of doctors and other health professionals think the patients would actually do it.
“The disconnect uncovered by these surveys illustrates that patients are frustrated by not achieving their A1C target and are willing to accelerate the treatment process if it means reaching it more quickly,” said Dr. George Grunberger, the AACE’s immediate past president. “Physicians should ensure they are effectively addressing patients’ therapeutic goals when it comes to determining treatment plans, and recognize that for certain patients, early and intensive treatment – in accordance with the AACE diabetes guidelines and algorithm, which recommend re-evaluating patients every three months and intensifying diabetes treatment if their A1C is not at target – is the appropriate approach.”
The different perceptions could have an influence on the time that some patients take to reach their A1C goals. And the consequences could be substantial because the results from the surveys demonstrate that more than 42% of the T2D patients still had not reached A1C targets, and 77% of the patients wanted to succeed at reaching A1C targets faster.
For patients still trying to reach target A1C, the results of the survey showed that the patient’s level of frustration doubled after one year of treatment compared to after three months of treatment. In fact, the results showed that 22% of the patients had stopped taking medications without speaking to the doctor or other health professionals; and 38% of the patients said they stopped medication because they were not having quick success at reaching the A1C target — which contributes to more challenges for health professionals across the board.
Chris Kaplan, Sanofi’s North America Region head, Diabetes & Cardiovascular Business Unit, said the findings are significant.
“These findings demonstrate the importance of ensuring that patients, physicians and other medical professionals are collaboratively addressing the challenges that exist in reaching as well as maintaining glycemic control, and considering different approaches where appropriate,” Kaplan said. “Our collaboration with AACE underscores our commitment to the clinicians who treat patients with diabetes and addressing their unmet needs.”
