A study published inPerspectives in Clinical Researchsuggests that lesser use of antidiabetic medication offers better treatment satisfaction and QoL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study recommends periodic evaluation of QOL and treatment satisfaction in T2DM.
Researchers evaluated 200 patients with T2DM who were randomly assigned into Group A (metformin, n=40), Group B (metformin and glipizide, n=47), Group C (metformin, glipizide with oral hypoglycaemic agents [OHA] e.g. sitagliptin, voglibose, n=78), and Group D (insulin with or without OHAs, n=35). QoL and treatment satisfaction were measured using a patient questionnaire, and an intergroup comparison was done at the baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
A significant improvement was observed in fasting, postprandial blood sugar at 6 months compared with baseline (P<.05). A total of 39 (19.5%) patients reported adverse events. Patients receiving metformin alone or in combination with glipizide (Group A, B, and C) showed improved physical health and physical endurance compared with those receiving other OHAs with or without insulin. Patients receiving metformin (Group A and B) reported highest treatment satisfaction and better QoL (P<.0001) and those who received insulin treatment reported least treatment satisfaction. Treatment satisfaction was affected by various factors like drug administration, cost of therapy, time spent on illness management, especially in insulin with complex regimen and multidrug regimen that end up in non-compliance and frequent hypoglycaemia and lipodystrophy events.
“Patients receiving single or two drug regimens reported better QOL as compared to combination regimen of OHAs and insulin. Unless the severity or the complication of the disease warrants complex drug regimens and multidrug therapies should be avoided ”, the authors commented.
