How Many Diabetes Patients Know the Name of Hypoglycemic Agents They Are Taking?

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Numerous diabetes patients do not know the name of hypoglycemic agents that they are taking, even though they have taken them for a long time. The aim of this study was to find out the percentage of diabetes patients who recognize the name of their hypoglycemic agents and to clarify whether such recognition have effect on their glycemic control. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was done from March to May 2004, targeting in-patients and out-patients who had been taking oral hypoglycemic agents for diabetes treatment in 2 hospitals. RESULTS: 134 patients (89.3%) of 150 completed the questionnaire. Only 20 (14.9%) patients accurately knew the name of at least one of the hypoglycemic agents they were taking. Smoking (P=0.0086), recognition of the name of hypoglycemic agents (P<0.0001), history of change of prescribed hypoglycemic agents (P=0.0095), diet and exercise (P<0.0001), explanation of hypoglycemic agents (P=0.0231), and forgetting to toke medicine (P<0.0001) were significantly related to the HbA1c level. Among these factors, history of change of prescribed hypoglycemic agents (P=0.0006), diet and exercise (P=0.0002), and forgetting to take medicine (P<0.0001) were the independent related factors after adjustment. CONCLUSION: The recognition rate of the name of hypoglycemic agents was low. It may be associated with patients' HbA1c, but was not an independent related factor.