KEY FINDING OF STUDY

DISCOVER, a study of patients with type 2 diabetes who are starting secondline glucose-lowering therapy, saw the participation of 334 patients from the nation. The study aimed to improve understanding of type 2 diabetes management and its efficacy, reduce the risk of complications from diabetes and improve quality of life for patients. A key finding of the study is that type 2 diabetes patients in the country on average experience a 3.3-year lag in treatment. They continue taking firstline medication (medication prescribed when they were first diagnosed) for as long as 3.3 years despite the medication being ineffective in managing their diabetes, before commencing on second-line treatment (the next option if first-line does not work).

Accessibility was found to be a key factor in prescribing treatment, with sulphonylurea (a widely available type of drug accessible to 98.8 per cent of patients) added to metformin (the commonly used first-line medication for diabetics) as a second-line treatment.

Often, diabetic patients, especially those on first-line treatment, do not regularly monitor their HbA1c levels, mistakenly believing that their glucose level is in control, as they are taking the prescribed medication.

The Discover study recorded evidence that diabetic patients here have a relatively high rate of potential complications. With diabetes being a risk factor in so many diseases, it is important to manage these risks effectively, such as by choosing the right diabetes medication.