Novartis calls for new approach to manage type 2 diabetes

IN OBSERVANCE of World Diabetes Day, Novartis Healthcare Philippines called for a new approach to the management of type 2 diabetes after a global survey revealed major disconnects in communication, disease awareness, and expectations between patients and physicians.

Novartis Pharma AG conducted the “Time 2 Do More in Diabetes” survey in collaboration with Dr. David Strain of Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in the United Kingdom and Prof. Matthias Blüher of University Hospital Leipzig in Germany.

Key findings

Aimed at examining the main reasons people with type 2 diabetes do not reach blood sugar goals, the survey involved 337 physicians and 652 patients from the United States., United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil, India and Spain. Physicians were asked to make their assessment based on an average 50-year-old person with type 2 diabetes. The key findings of the survey are:

Lifestyle/dietary changes

• Only two in five patients exercise more after diagnosis to reach blood sugar goals.

• Only half (51 percent) of patients make dietary changes after diagnosis.

• Only one-third (36 percent) of physicians expect patients to make lifestyle changes following diagnosis.

Blood sugar targets

• Following diagnosis, two-thirds (63 percent) of patients say they understand the importance of blood sugar goals.

• Yet, physicians only expect half (52 percent) of patients to reach blood sugar goals.

Treatment regimens

• Half of physicians agree that using two or more therapies early is important to control blood sugar levels and decrease the risk of complications.

• Less than half of physicians (49 percent) believe patients will take their type 2 diabetes medication as instructed.

Risks and complications

• More than nine out of 10 (92 percent) physicians discuss the risks and complications of type 2 diabetes at diagnosis.

• Yet, only half of patients recall the topics being discussed.

• Only one in five (21 percent) patients say heart disease is their top concern.

• Developing vision problems is the leading concern for people with type 2 diabetes, with half saying it is their biggest fear.

• Only 3 percent of patients fully understand the risks of hypoglycemia.

The survey results are particularly relevant in light of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2013 Diabetes Atlas, which revealed that worldwide more than 382 million people have diabetes, with one person dying from the disease every six seconds. In the Philippines, an estimated 3.2 million people have type 2 diabetes.

The survey results are also in line with a 2010 study published in the journal Diabetes Care, which found that almost half (42 percent) of people with type 2 diabetes who are treated for the disease do not reach their blood sugar goals, putting them at higher risk of organ and tissue damage, blindness and even death.

According to Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism president Dr. Cecilia Jimeno, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the country. “There is an urgent need for education and awareness about this debilitating disease and the serious complications it causes,” she added.

“Regular physical activity, a healthy diet and good communication with your doctor can make a huge difference in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Ricardo Elwyn Fernando, president of  Diabetes Philippines.

“Novartis fully supports World Diabetes Day and will continue to work with the International Diabetes Federation to help address one of the world’s biggest health issues,” said Dr. Nikolaos Tripodis, president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on Nov. 14 in more than 160 countries worldwide. To support the country’s observance of World Diabetes Day, Novartis Healthcare Philippines has lined up a weeklong schedule of healthy lifestyle activities for its employees. These include healthy cooking demos, group exercise classes and a session  with a diabetes expert called “Itanong Mo Kay Dok.”