Survey: Patients willing to take action to reach HbA1c targets quicker than providers believe

Adults with type 2 diabetes are more willing to target lower HbA1c levels and act quickly than their physicians believe, according to survey results from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists with support from Sanofi US.

Results also revealed that more than half of respondents are willing to visit their physicians and make changes to their medications in order to reach HbA1c targets.

The surveys were administered to 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes diagnosed from 1 to 5 years ago and 1,004 physicians and other medical professionals from the United States.

“The disconnect uncovered by these surveys illustrates that patients are frustrated by not achieving their HbA1c target and are willing to accelerate the treatment process if it means reaching it more quickly,” George Grunberger, MD, FACP, FACE, immediate past president of AACE, said in a press release. “Physicians should ensure they are effectively addressing patients’ therapeutic goals when it comes to determining treatment plans, and recognize that for certain patients, early and intensive treatment — in accordance with the AACE diabetes guidelines and algorithm, which recommended reevaluating patients every 3 months and intensifying diabetes treatment if their HbA1c is not at target — is the appropriate approach.”

Other results from the surveys revealed that 57% of patients would be willing to visit their physicians or health care providers more often, whereas only 19% of physicians and health care providers believed that to be true; 52% of patients would be willing to make multiple medical changes, whereas only 16% of physicians and health care providers believed that to be true.

The ability of patients to reach their HbA1c targets may be impaired with the differing perceptions between patients and health care providers; 42% of patients have not reached their HbA1c target and 77% want to reach it more quickly.

Survey findings also revealed that 22% of patients stopped taking their medications without talking to their health care providers, and 38% reported that they discontinued because they did not reach their HbA1c target.

“These findings demonstrate the importance of ensuring that patients, physicians and other medical professionals are collaboratively addressing the challenges that exist in reaching as well as maintaining glycemic control, and considering different approaches where appropriate,” Chris Kaplan, North American Region Head, diabetes and cardiovascular business unit of Sanofi, said in the release. “Our collaboration with AACE underscores our commitment to the clinicians who treat patients with diabetes and addressing their unmet needs.”