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World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization, and diabetes awareness campaigns are organized around this date. The theme for 2024 is “Diabetes and Well-being.”
Diabetes is known to cause “three major complications”—diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic neuropathy—due to persistent high blood glucose levels, and a high proportion of diabetes patients also suffer from various other lifestyle-related diseases, making it important to control the complications of the disease.
On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, CareNet and Macromill CareNet conducted a survey of 102 physicians (47 specialists and 55 non-specialists) among CareNet members who treat patients with type 2 diabetes.
The results revealed the following. <Survey period> 09/11/2024-09/13/2024
An average of 124 patients with type 2 diabetes were treated with non-insulin in the last month, including 39 patients with CKD co-morbidity, 20 patients with chronic heart failure co-morbidity, and 21 patients with NASH (including suspected) co-morbidity.
Regarding control of blood glucose and co-morbidities/symptoms, 20%–30% of doctors answered that they were under control (Top 2 Box) for “blood glucose control” and around 15% for “disease and symptom control.” Half of the doctors answered “Fairly well controlled” for “Blood glucose control,” suggesting that although a certain level of blood glucose control has been achieved, it is not yet at the ideal level.
The most common reason for poor control of any co-morbidity or condition was “poor glycemic control” at 50%–60%, followed by “poor diet and exercise therapy” at 20%–30% and “patients not visiting the hospital regularly” at around 20%.
In terms of what patients need to do to improve control of type 2 diabetes and its co-morbidities and symptoms, the most common response for all co-morbidities was “reducing the burden of hospital visits” at 40%–50%, followed by “using treatment support apps” and “communication among patients” at 30%–40%.
The introduction of treatment support through digital tools, apps to support self-management, and apps that enable patients to communicate with each other and with healthcare professionals could improve patients’ motivation and control of blood glucose and co-morbidities. Education and support may be required to enable patients to use these apps effectively.
The average number of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with non-insulin in the last month was 124, including 39 patients with CKD co-morbidity, 20 with chronic heart failure co-morbidity, and 21 with NASH (including suspected) co-morbidity.
Average number of patients treated per month
“Please indicate which drugs are selected for their ‘non-hypoglycemic effects’ on the co-morbidities/symptoms of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a non-insulin.” The option “SGLT2 inhibitors” was the most popular choice for all co-morbidities at 60%–80%, followed by “GLP-1 (GIP/GLP-1) receptor agonists” at 30%–40%.
Looking at the differences between specialized/non-specialized patients, a slightly higher proportion of specialists chose “thiazolidinediones” and “biguanide drugs” for “NASH (including suspected).”
Drugs selected for effects other than their hypoglycemic effect
For the question “Please indicate which of the following applies to the control of blood glucose and non-glycemic diseases/symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes,” in the “glycemic control” category, 20%–30% of doctors answered “well controlled” (Top 2 Box), and in the “disease and symptom control” category, around 15% answered “well controlled.”
Half of the doctors answered “fairly well controlled” for “blood glucose control,” suggesting that although a certain level of blood glucose control has been achieved, it is not yet at the ideal level.
Status of control of blood glucose and co-morbidities/symptoms
For the question “For patients with type 2 diabetes, please indicate the factors contributing to poor control of diseases/symptoms other than glycemic control,” the most common answer was “Poor glycemic control” at 50%–60% for all co-morbidities, followed by “Poor diet and exercise therapy” at 20%–30% and “Patients do not visit the hospital regularly” at around 20%.
Inadequate lifestyle management was considered to be the cause of difficulties in controlling blood glucose and co-morbidities. In addition, irregular visits to the hospital lead to a worsening of the disease due to a lack of appropriate treatment.
Factors contributing to poor control of disease and symptoms other than blood glucose control
For the question “Please indicate what the patient needs to do to improve control of type 2 diabetes and its co-morbidities/symptoms,” the most common answer was “Reduce the burden of hospital visits” for all co-morbidities at 40%–50%, followed by “Use of treatment support apps” and “Communication among patients” at 30%–40%.
The introduction of treatment support through digital tools, apps to support self-management, and apps that enable patients to communicate with each other and with healthcare professionals could improve patients’ motivation and control of blood glucose and co-morbidities. Education and support may be required to enable patients to use these apps effectively.
What is needed for patients to improve control of co-morbidities and symptoms
When asked freely about what doctors do to motivate patients with type 2 diabetes for treatment, the most common response (14%) was “praise them about the results,” followed by “explain the results carefully” (8%) and “set specific goals” (6%), as well as explanations that help doctors better understand patients and setting goals that are easy to achieve, which may indicate that they are trying to improve patients’ motivation for treatment.
What you are doing to increase motivation for treatment
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