Simplify the treatment of type 2 diabetes can promote blood sugar control

Posted by darai on September 6, 2008 in Diabetes

WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Medical News) published in the “Western Journal of Medicine” in September period on a research report, to simplify the use of drug therapy, most patients with type 2 diabetes can get better control of blood sugar. (West J Med 2000; 173:175-179.)

Researchers use of electronic drug database, analysis of type 2 diabetes health maintenance organization members in 5,061 cases (1997 to 12 months for the health plan) to improve blood sugar control of the situation.

They will study divided into four groups: Group 1 for the use of insulin alone or with metformin and sulfonylurea combination (26.6%); second group was used alone or metformin and sulfonylurea combination (15.3%); third group The use of sulfonylurea hypoglycemic agents (40.6%); fourth group was not using any hypoglycemic agents (17.6%). In these groups, in accordance with the “meet or exceed the recommended levels of blood sugar control standard” (by HbA1c less than eight percent) and then divided into two subgroups.

The researchers found that demographic characteristics help to identify patterns of high-risk patients. Short duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus elderly patients control blood sugar levels better than the long course of the young patients, and compared with men, women better blood glucose control. These features are present in each division in the treatment. Moreover, the study also found that despite better blood glucose control, but there is still room for improvement, because there are 31% of the patients HbA1c higher than eight percent.

The researchers believe that the bad blood glucose control patients, whether by insulin or metformin, as long as we can so that they increase the dose of good blood glucose control 55.3 percent. Moreover, many secondary sulfonylurea failure patients still use the original treatment, rather than switch to the treatment programmes or use insulin.