Basic characteristics and treatment regimens in people with type 2 diabetes who participated in the International Diabetes Management Practices Study in Costa Rica

Abstract

Background: The International Diabetes Management Practice Study was a worldwide observational study with the aim to determine the standard of care of diabetic patients in different regions around the world and the adherence to the international guidelines regarding diabetic care and management. Around the world 15,016 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study, published previously by Ringborg et al, in the International Journal of Clinical Practice in 2009. The following study corresponds to the sub study which analyzed the patients who participated in Costa Rica.

Results: In Costa Rica 49 type 2 diabetic patients were recruited from the private practice of 5 endocrinologists from March 22nd to April 24th, 2007. The mean fasting blood sugar value of the patients studied was of 140.45mg/dL ± 56.3. With respect to glycemic control, the study showed that 60% of patients had an HbA1c > 7% and 17.5% of them had a value greater than 9%. All the patients who were evaluated had some type of pharmacologic agent in their therapeutic regimen. Around sixty-three percent (63.6%) of the patients who were treated with oral antidiabetic agents and 45.5% with insulin alone reached the target of an HbA1c < 7%, respectively. To a lesser extent (22.2%) patients who were treated with both types of medications reached that goal.

Conclusion: In this study the majority of patients (60%), did not meet criteria for an adequate glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) despite the broad scientific evidence available which demonstrates that an adequate glycemic control effectively reduces micro and macrovascular complications. More emphasis needs to be added to improve treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes in Costa Rica.