Miyuki Furuya

Patient-reported adherence to insulin regimen is associated with glycemic control among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: Diabetes Distress and Care Registry at Tenri (DDCRT 3)

AIMS We investigated the association between self-reported adherence to an insulin regimen and glycemic control in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Data from 1441 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with insulin were obtained from a diabetes registry in Japan. We obtained information on self-reported adherence to an insulin regimen. Relative risk regression analysis was employed to assess the independent association of various demographic factors with good glycemic control (HbA1c<7.0% [53 mmol/mol]) while adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS The mean age, body mass index, and number of daily insulin injections of participants were 65.4 years, 24.7 kg/m(2), and 2.3, respectively. Of all patients, 70.6% reported high adherence to their insulin regimen. Compared with participants with higher adherence, the crude relative risk of good glycemic control was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.67-1.00) for those with middle adherence and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.31-1.31) for those with lower adherence (P=0.029 for trend). Subgroup analysis confirmed this association in patients below 65 years old, but not in those 65 years old and over. CONCLUSIONS A higher adherence to a daily insulin regimen was associated with a greater likelihood of good glycemic control in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients. This association was not seen in patients of 65 years old or over. Self-reported adherence to an insulin regimen may prove useful in titrating insulin dose in patients in the younger age group, but requires further investigation.

Fear of hypoglycemia and its determinants in insulin‐treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of fear of hypoglycemia, in association with severe hypoglycemia and social factors, in insulin‐treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A questionnaire survey on hypoglycemia and patient–physician communication was carried out in 355 patients with insulin‐treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at 16 hospitals and clinics. A fear of hypoglycemia was reported by 27.7% of patients. A stepwise logistic regression analysis found that severe hypoglycemia during the past 1 year was a significant determinant of fear of hypoglycemia (odds ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval 1.06–4.41; P = 0.034), and age (odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 1.00–1.05, P = 0.038) and living alone (odds ratio 1.93, 95% confidence interval 1.00–3.73, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in patients with fear of hypoglycemia than in those without it.

Glucagon Underutilized Among Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Japan

AIM Glucagon is recommended to treat severe hypoglycemia in nonhospital environments, when a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is unconscious and unable to eat or drink. However, the actual possession rate of glucagon in Japan has not been investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We recruited 208 T1DM patients older than 15 years of age. The patients were treated at 16 hospitals and clinics in different regions of Japan. Answers were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire about the possession, the experience of usage, and the preference to possess glucagon after reading what is glucagon and when it is used. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the influence of various factors on the possession of glucagon. RESULTS The possession rate of glucagon was 15.9%, and the rate of those who had experience of using glucagon to treat severe hypoglycemia was 6.0%. The rate of preference to possess glucagon at home after reading the description of glucagon was 39.0%. The possession of glucagon was significantly associated with results of the Glucagon Knowledge Test (odds ratio=24.1; 95% confidence interval, 3.2-183.3; P=0.002) and the history of severe hypoglycemia within 1 year (odds ratio=4.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-12.0; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Glucagon as a measure to treat severe hypoglycemia was underutilized among T1DM patients in Japan.

Predictor variables and an equation for estimating HbA1c attainable by initiation of basal supported oral therapy.

Aims/Introduction:  A method of estimating HbA1c attained after initiation of basal supported oral therapy (BOT) has not been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to determine which characteristics of patients could influence the effectiveness of BOT introduction, and to obtain an equation to estimate HbA1c after BOT initiation.

Real-life glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin therapy: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study (Diabetes Distress and Care Registry at Tenri [DDCRT 9])

We investigated the association between four insulin regimens, and increase in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin dose in a real‐life clinical setting because there are no data about them among insulin regimens.

Development of a self-efficacy questionnaire, ‘Insulin Therapy Self-efficacy Scale (ITSS)’, for insulin users in Japanese: The Self-Efficacy-Q study

Although patient self‐efficacy is known to affect adherence to therapy, no available tool measures self‐efficacy of insulin therapy administration while addressing the entire therapeutic process and management. In light of this, we developed the ‘Insulin Therapy Self‐efficacy Scale (ITSS).’

Association between dipstick hematuria and decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study [Diabetes Distress and Care Registry at Tenri (DDCRT 14)]

AIMS To assess the association between dipstick hematuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS Longitudinal data were obtained from 3068 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. To assess the independent association between dipstick hematuria and eGFR decline, we used Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS Median follow-up period was 699.7days. Mean age, body mass index (BMI), and HbA1c level were 65.7years, 24.6kg/m2, and 7.5% (58.1mmol/mol), respectively. Positive dipstick hematuria was significantly associated with baseline eGFR and severity of albuminuria (p<0.001). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for eGFR decline in patients with dipstick hematuria compared with those without dipstick hematuria was 2.19 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-3.91]; this association remained significant even after the exclusion of patients who did not have diabetic retinopathy (hazard ratio: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.13-5.04). CONCLUSION Positive dipstick hematuria was associated with severity of albuminuria and renal function. A significant association was found between dipstick hematuria and increased risk of eGFR decline among patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, our results suggest that dipstick hematuria is perhaps indicative of more severe diabetic nephropathy.