Clinical diabetes : a publication of the American Diabetes Association | 2019
Therapeutic Inertia is a Problem for All of Us.
Abstract
Despite the availability of new technologies and therapies, about half of all patients with diabetes in the United States continue to have inadequate glycemic control (1). Why? The reasons are multifactorial; however, therapeutic inertia is a major one.\n\nThe term “therapeutic inertia” refers to the failure to advance therapy or to de-intensify therapy when appropriate (2). Why is this important? Many long-term trials show that intensive therapy can have a major impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (3–5). Moreover, achieving early glycemic control may generate a positive legacy effect with persistent reduction in microvascular complications, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality (3,4). The EDICT (Efficacy and Durability of Initial Combination Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes) trial showed a significant …