Perception of insulin therapy in uncontrolled patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective: To determine the perception of insulin therapy by patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus, who have been treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin. Design: Prospective comparative cross-sectional study. Setting: Family Medicine Unit No. 53 Leon, Guanajuato of Mexican Institute of Social Security. Participants: Patients between 40 and 80 years old with uncontrolled type 2 mellitus diabetes, treated with insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents. Main measurements: Perception was assessed using the insulin treatment appraisal scale (ITAS). The rating of the survey is from 20 to 100 points, as such that when score increases the greater is the negative opinion. Results: A sample of 459 diabetes patients were interviewed and split into 2 groups of patients according to their treatment. The OH group were patients treated with oral hypoglycaemic drugs only (56.9%), and the IN group were patients treated with insulin alone or combined with an oral hypoglycaemic (43.1%). Perception score was significantly higher in OH group (56.95 +/- 7.78 versus 49.55 +/- 8.89 points) than in the IN group (P<.001). Conclusions: The perception of insulin therapy was worse in patients treated with only oral hypoglycaemic agents than in patients using insulin. (C) 2016 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.