HOME HELP SUBSCRIBE ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS FEEDBACK EDITORIAL BOARD ABOUT DOC NEWS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Goldfarb, B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Goldfarb, B. Social Bookmarking                What's this?

Simpler Glycemic Control Methods Linked to Treatment Satisfaction, Adherence

When it comes to patient self-management, a simpler plan means better adherence, higher treatment satisfaction, and a lower chance of hypoglycemia, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, held August 1–4 in St. Louis.

Philip A. Levin, MD, of Model Clinical Research, and Quanwu Zhang, PhD, of Sanofi-Aventis, reported a study of 273 people with type 2 diabetes who received insulin glargine (Lantus, Sanofi-Aventis) and premeal insulin glulisine (Apidra, Sanofi-Aventis). All the participants initially showed poor blood glucose control, with glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels of 7–10%.

Participants were randomized to use one of two methods to calculate insulin doses.

One method involved a simple algorithm calling for glargine once daily and a fixed dose of glulisine before meals that was adjusted weekly based on self-monitored blood glucose readings.

The other method involved a more complicated calculation based on premeal self-monitored blood glucose readings and carbohydrate counting.

In both cases, patients sought to achieve preprandial glucose levels of ß100 mg/dl and bedtime glucose levels of ß130 mg/dl.

The researchers followed the participants for 24 weeks, during which time they had repeated blood tests and completed three diabetes and quality-of-life questionnaires.

Although both groups reached target A1C levels by the end of the study, participants who used the simple algorithm reported higher levels of satisfaction with treatment than those in the carb-counting group. Participants in the carbcounting group also were more likely to drop out of the study: 28 of them quit, compared with 12 people in the algorithm group.

People who followed the algorithm were also less likely to report episodes of hypoglycemia.

Overall, the findings indicate simpler self-management strategies prove more effective, the researchers conclude.

CiteULike    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Goldfarb, B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Goldfarb, B. Social Bookmarking                What's this?