Lower Number of Doses May Help Patients Stick to a Treatment Regimen

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The DIACOM study (effect of DosIng frequency of oral Antidiabetic agents on the COMpliance and biochemical control of type 2 diabetes), by P. Kardas and colleagues. Diabetes Obes Metab 7:722–728, 2005.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Taking medication as prescribed is an important part of a person's medical treatment. Even so, there are many patients who do not take their medication as prescribed. When patients don't stick to their drug routine, treatment is less effective. For people with type 2 diabetes, non-compliance can make the condition worse and make complications more likely.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to compare how well people stuck to their treatment plan. They compared people who took sulphonylureas, the most widely used diabetes medication taken by mouth. Some of the people took the drug once a day, and others took the drug twice a day.

Who was studied?

The study included 105 patients with type 2 diabetes who took a sulphonylureas medication. The age of patients ranged from 40 to 75.

How was the study done?

The patients were divided into two groups. About half took the medication twice a day, while the rest took it once a day. They took the drug for 16 weeks, using a special tablet bottle equipped with a computer chip that kept track of the date and time the medication was taken.

What did the researchers find?

Patients who took the drug once a day did a much better job at sticking with their plan. They took the correct number of doses on more days, and they missed doses less often than those who took the drug twice a day.

They also had better blood glucose results and a lower A1C level, a measure of long-term glucose control.

What were the limitations of the study?

Participants knew about the study's purpose, which could have influenced their behavior.

What are the implications of the study?

Drugs taken once a day may have important advantages over drugs taken twice a day in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

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