Patient perceptions of their glycemic control and its influence on type 2 diabetes outcomes: an international survey of online communities.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess awareness of glycated hemoglobin (A1C) testing and targets, perceived level of glycemic control and risk of complications, attitudes toward medications and self-management, and regimen-related distress in an international sample of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

The descriptive study used a single time-point survey of adults in online health communities in the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Mexico, who self-reported T2D diagnosed by a physician.

RESULTS

In total, 661 patients participated. Awareness of their A1C value at last test varied considerably between countries (42%-89%), as did awareness of having an A1C target (26%- 70%). Self-reported A1C values were similar across US, Canadian, and European respondents (mean, 6.8%-7.3%). Approximately two-thirds of respondents from these countries (66%-71%) reported that their T2D was very or fairly well controlled, and few (5%-15%) expected to experience serious complications within 1 year. However, many respondents expected to experience microvascular (rather than macrovascular) complications in this time frame (eg, nerve pain, 5%-47%). Self-reported adherence to oral medication was generally high, with most respondents (86%-98%) taking their pills or tablets as directed by their healthcare provider, although for insulin injections adherence was lower in the USA (71%) and Mexico (78%) than in the other countries (86%-95%). The majority of respondents across countries (71%-79%) reported that taking injectable medications was not at all or a little burdensome. Respondents across countries appeared to be reasonably confident that they could adequately manage their blood sugar levels; despite this, a sizeable minority (21%-35%) had clinically significant levels of regimen-related distress.

CONCLUSION

Limited patient awareness of their A1C value and the potential complications of poorly controlled T2D, particularly regarding cardiovascular complications, may be a widespread problem. Furthermore, greater patient support may be needed to improve self-management of T2D and to reduce regimen-related distress.