Glucose Control in Insulin Treated Type 2 Diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study of factors explaining blood glucose control in patients with insulin treated type 2 diabetes
IRAS ID
165620
Contact name
Angus Forbes
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to identify factors explaining blood sugar control in patients with insulin treated type 2 diabetes (T2DM) from perspectives of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs).
Increasing numbers of people with T2DM are treated with insulin, which is often managed in general practice. More than 3.2 million people in the UK have diabetes, of which 90% have T2DM. Prolonged high blood sugar leads to complications such as eye and kidney disease. Despite improved lifestyle and newer medicines, insulin is generally needed. It is currently the most effective glucose lowering agent; it can reduce glucose levels close to therapeutic targets; and there is no maximum dose beyond which a treatment effect will not occur. Despite this effectiveness many receiving insulin still have poor control. This study will explore why.
Published research reveals many reasons for poor control which can be broadly divided into three. The first is patient related such as forgetting or intentionally missing insulin injections. The second relates to HCPs such as not teaching patients insulin adjustment, or failure to intensify insulin. The third is health system related such as lack of integrated care between specialists and primary care HCPs, and lack of insulin training for General Practitioners (GPs) and Practice Nurses (PNs). This research adds to existing knowledge by giving a detailed insight into patients' understanding of reasons for poor control, GP and PN perspectives, and local practice organization, in one single study.
A mixed methods design will be used with patient survey and interviews of patients, GPs and PNs. Associations between clinical characteristics and good/poor control will be determined with statistical analysis. Key themes will be identified from interviews, then examined, merged and analysed with survey data. Results will be interpreted to establish how they contribute to the research aims in explaining blood glucose control.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
15/SS/0080
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion