A recent study from Northwestern Medicine has revealed a troubling pattern among people with Type 2 diabetes.
After metformin, which is the first medicine most patients take to manage blood sugar, many need a second drug. But this study found that people often don’t stick with that second medicine.
The researchers looked at the health records of more than 82,000 people from 2014 to 2017. What they found was surprising: within just one year of starting a new diabetes medication, almost two out of three people either stopped taking it, switched to a different one, or had to take a higher dose.
This kind of inconsistency can cause problems for both patients and doctors.
When people stop or switch their medicine, it wastes time and money. More importantly, it means their diabetes may not be controlled properly, which can lead to serious health issues. The study focused on five groups of diabetes medicines that don’t include insulin. In four out of these five, about 38% of patients stopped taking their medicine.
The dropout rate was even worse—50%—for people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs are also used for weight loss, but they can cause side effects like nausea or diarrhea, which may be why so many people stop using them.
David Liss, the lead author of the study, said that stopping these medications puts people at higher risk for problems that may lead to hospital stays. This makes it a serious issue for public health.
One interesting finding was that people were more likely to continue their medication—and more likely to need a higher dose—if the drug was prescribed by an endocrinologist. These are doctors who specialize in hormone-related diseases like diabetes. This could be because they know more about new drugs and can explain the pros and cons better than general doctors.
The researchers used health insurance records to track changes in prescriptions. This method helped them follow whether someone stayed on a drug, switched to another, or needed more of it. However, they couldn’t always tell why people stopped. Some may have quit without even telling their doctor.
That’s why the study also points to the need for better communication between patients and doctors. It’s not enough to talk once when the drug is prescribed. People need ongoing support to deal with side effects, cost issues, and questions about how the medicine works.
The takeaway from this study is clear: we need to find better ways to help people stick to their diabetes treatment. Understanding why people stop taking their medicine is the first step toward fixing the problem and helping them stay healthy.
If you’re interested in learning more about diabetes, check out other research on how vitamin D affects blood sugar, which fruits are best for people with diabetes, how low-calorie diets may help reverse the condition, and which vitamins may help prevent serious complications.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
The full study will be published in The American Journal of Managed Care.
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