Basal Insulin Initiation in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Administrative Health Data in Alberta, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacologic treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) follows a stepwise approach. Typically, metformin monotherapy is first-line treatment, followed by other noninsulin antihyperglycemic agents (NIAHAs) or progression to insulin if glycated hemoglobin (A1C) targets are not achieved. We aimed to describe real-world patterns of basal insulin initiation in people with T2DM, and A1C not at target despite treatment with at least 2 NIAHAs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using administrative health data from Alberta, Canada, among adults with T2DM, indexed on the first test with 7.0% < A1C < 9.5% (April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2019), with at least 2 previous NIAHAs but no insulin. Kaplan-Meier (KM) methodology was used to analyze time to basal insulin initiation, with stratification by index A1C. Annual patient status was categorized into 5 groups: basal insulin initiation, death, NIAHA intensification, no change in therapy (subgroups of A1C <7.1% and A1C ≥7.1% [clinical inertia]), or discontinuance. RESULTS: The cohort included 14,083 individuals. The KM cumulative probability of initiating basal insulin was 7.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.3% to 8.2%) at 1 year, increasing to 43.1% (95% CI 42.1% to 44.1%) at 8 years of follow-up. Higher A1C levels were associated with greater proportions of basal insulin initiation. By year 8, proportions with NIAHA intensification and clinical inertia were 12.1% and 19.3%, respectively, relative to year 7. CONCLUSIONS: Despite current clinical practice guidelines recommending achieving A1C targets within 6 months, less than half of the individuals with T2DM and clear indications for basal insulin initiated treatment within 8 years. Efforts to reduce delays in basal insulin initiation are needed.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Antihyperglycemic Prescriptions for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in Canada: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is a major public health problem in Canada and requires multifactorial, consistent clinical management. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased challenges in the management of many chronic ailments, including diabetes. Diabetes was associated with a higher risk of severe illness in the context of COVID-19. Pandemic restrictions also impacted diabetes care continuity, which may have contributed to an increased risk of diabetes-related complications and mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of prescription patterns of antihyperglycemic medications claimed by individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic using the IQVIA Canada Longitudinal Prescription Claims database. The study period was from March 1, 2018, to February 28, 2021. The study outcomes are described on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis and overall, and by medication, medication class, and insurance coverage type. "New-to-molecule" patients were defined as those claiming a medication during the analysis period that they had no history of claiming in the database. Adults with at least 1 year of prescription history available and claiming their first prescription for an antihyperglycemic drug during the analysis period were classified as newly diagnosed with T2D. RESULTS: A similar number of people had at least 1 non-insulin antihyperglycemic prescription during the baseline, prepandemic, and pandemic periods in Canada (1,778,155, 1,822,403, and 1,797,272, respectively). However, the number of people initiating newer antihyperglycemic medications decreased at the beginning of the pandemic, in contrast to older medications, which remained consistent across the pandemic period. The number of people diagnosed with T2D decreased in the early months of the pandemic but recovered by October 2020. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 epidemic in Canada impacted clinical care for at-risk Canadians, with fewer being prescribed newer antihyperglycemic drugs and a reduction in the number of diagnoses of T2D.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Care and Clinical Parameters in a Primary Care Setting in Ontario, Canada: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes requires ongoing monitoring and care to prevent long-term adverse health outcomes. In Canada, quarantine restrictions were put into place to address the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020. Primary care diabetes clinics limited their in-person services and were advised to manage type 2 diabetes (T2D) through virtual visits and reduce the frequency of routine diabetes-related lab tests and screening. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study used de-identified patient records from a primary care electronic medical records database in Ontario, Canada, to identify people with T2D who had at least 1 health-care touchpoint between March 1, 2018, and February 28, 2021. Outcomes were described on a monthly or yearly basis: 1) number of people with primary care visits (in-person vs virtual); 2) number of people with referrals; 3) number of people with each of the vital/lab measures; and 4) results of the vital/lab measures. RESULTS: A total of 16,845 individuals with T2D were included. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the COVID-19 period had a 16.8% reduction in the T2D population utilizing any primary care and an increase of 330.4% in the number of people with at least 1 virtual visit. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, fewer people had vital/lab measures in the pandemic period. However, among the people with the test results available, the average values for all tests were similar in the pre- and pandemic periods. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to understand the impact of the reduction of in-person clinical care on the entire population with T2D.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Switching to Insulin Degludec from Other Basal Insulins in a Real-World Canadian Population with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes: The CAN-TREAT Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to examine glycaemic control and safety of insulin degludec (degludec) in patients with either type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) under routine care settings in Canada. METHODS: Data were extracted from medical records of adults with T1D or T2D who switched to degludec (± prandial insulin) from another basal insulin (± prandial insulin) ≥ 6 months prior to data collection. The primary endpoint was change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at 6 ± 3 months after degludec initiation. Secondary endpoints included change in hypoglycaemia rate in the 6 months before versus the 6 months after switching, and change in mean total daily insulin dose. RESULTS: Of 667 patients assessed for eligibility, 626 were included. After 6 ± 3 months, HbA1c decreased from baseline in patients with T1D (- 0.3% [- 0.42, - 0.14]95% CI; p < 0.001) and in patients with T2D (- 0.4% [- 0.55, - 0.30]95% CI; p < 0.001). In patients with T1D, there were significant reductions in the rates of overall (rate ratio [RR] 0.70), non-severe (RR 0.69), non-severe nocturnal (RR 0.36), and severe nocturnal hypoglycaemia (RR 0.12; all p ≤ 0.004). In patients with T2D there was a significant reduction in non-severe nocturnal hypoglycaemia (RR 0.22; p < 0.001). Mean daily basal insulin dose decreased in patients with T1D (- 1.6 units [- 2.8, - 0.4]95% CI; p = 0.008); there was no significant change in patients with T2D (- 0.6 units [- 2.7, 1.4]95% CI; p = 0.543). CONCLUSION: In routine clinical practice, improved glycaemic control was observed in patients with T1D or T2D switching to insulin degludec from other basal insulins, with either improvement or no change in hypoglycaemia rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03674866.

Direct Health-Care Costs and Productivity Costs Associated With Hypoglycemia in Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus That Participated in the Canadian Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool Program.

OBJECTIVES: There is a paucity of information concerning the cost of hypoglycemia events in Canadians with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to estimate the direct health-care costs and indirect costs associated with hypoglycemia based on a Canadian cohort of 498 patients from the global Hypoglycemia Assessment Tool (HAT) study. METHODS: A costing model was developed to estimate the direct costs related to experiencing hypoglycemia by using health-care resources associated with hospital admissions and additional clinical appointments that were prospectively reported 1 month after baseline in the HAT study. Data collected retrospectively on work absenteeism in the year prior to baseline were used to estimate the indirect costs of hypoglycemia events. All costs were annualized and reported in 2016 Canadian dollars. RESULTS: Of the 403 patients with diabetes who experienced hypoglycemia events in the first month after baseline (81%), 10 (2.5%) patients required hospitalization or clinical appointments. Over 1 year, the mean direct health-care costs were estimated to be C$90,300 (C$1,777 per patient) for hospitalizations and C$14,695 (C$204 per person) for additional clinical appointments. Work absenteeism resulted in a total annual indirect cost of C$20,937 for time off due to sick leave (C$500 per patient), arriving late (C$187 per patient) or leaving work early (C$128 per patient). The annual direct and indirect costs of hypoglycemia events total C$125,932. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of hypoglycemia events on health-care resource utilization and work productivity leads to substantial direct and indirect costs in Canadian patients with diabetes.

Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs Second Study (DAWN2): Understanding Diabetes-Related Psychosocial Outcomes for Canadians with Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: DAWN2 assessed the psychosocial impact of diabetes on persons with diabetes (PWDs), family members and healthcare professionals (HCPs) across 17 countries. This article reports on the Canadian cohort of PWDs. METHODS: PWDs completed online, validated self-report scales assessing quality of life (QOL), self-management, beliefs, social support and priorities for improving diabetes care. Analyses used unweighted data. RESULTS: Of 500 participants (80 type 1, 420 type 2) positive self-reported QOL was common (64.6%) and likely depression less common (12.8%). Diabetes distress, however, was identified by almost half of PWDs with type 1 diabetes, and one-quarter of PWDs with type 2 (47.5% vs. 25.7% type 2; p<0.001). Numerous life areas were negatively impacted, particularly finances, work and emotional well-being for those with type 1 diabetes (p<0.001 vs. type 2). Most PWDs reported support from family, friends and HCPs, but few reported being asked by HCPs how diabetes affected their lives. Most PWDs participated in (type 1, 90.0%; type 2, 85.7%) and valued (type 1, 84.7%; type 2, 78.1%) diabetes education. Few PWDs relied on community supports (type 1, 17.5%; type 2, 26.9%), and discrimination was not uncommon for those with type 1 (33.8% vs. 12.4% for type 2; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PWDs experience psychological challenges that should be addressed within diabetes management services.

Under-utilization of capillary glucose monitoring by type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: Postprandial glycemic excursions contribute significantly to A1C level. Furthermore, postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We have evaluated the frequency of monitoring and the level of PPG in type 2 diabetic patients followed by their family physician. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Canadian multicenter observational study, including 185 type 2 diabetic patients. Capillary blood glucose was measured with an Ultrasmart glucose meter (Life Scan) during a routine visit to their general practitioner. The patients also had to answer a questionnaire concerning the time since their last meal before the visit, and the frequency of postprandial monitorings defined as 10 mmol/L). A PPG >10 mmol/L was found in 18.8% (n=9), 43.5% (n=47) and 73.1% (n=19) of patients in Groups 1-3, respectively. Independent of treatment category, the mean (S.D.) PPG measured by capillary methods was above the recommended target: 10.6 mmol/L (3.7) <1-h postprandial; 10.0 mmol/L (4.2) between 1 and 2h postprandial meal; and 9.9 (3.9) 2 and 3h after meal. CONCLUSION: This observational study shows that a third of the patients measured their PPG and for those who did, only a third were within the recommended target. It suggests that the patients, and probably the treating physicians, are not aware of the importance of measuring PPG. Continued medical education strategies are required to implement the recommendations for measuring and treating PPG as part of the intensive treatment of diabetes.