An evaluation of the impact of antidiabetic medication on treatment satisfaction and quality of life in patients of diabetes mellitus

AIMS: This study aims to measure the quality of life (QOL), treatment satisfaction, and tolerability of antidiabetic drugs in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The prospective, observational study was conducted in consenting patients of type 2 DM attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Western India. The QOL instrument for Indian diabetes (QOLID) patients questionnaire and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire were administered to all patients at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months of treatment. Tukey–Kramer comparison test was used to analyze the difference in QOLID scores in various domains at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. WHO-UMC scale, Naranjo's probability scale, Hartwig and Siegel, and Schumock and Thornton modified criteria were used to analyze the adverse drug reactions. RESULTS: A male preponderance was observed in 200 patients enrolled in the study. The mean duration of diabetes was 10.96 ± 5.99 years. The patients received metformin alone (40), metformin and glipizide (47), metformin, glipizide and other oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) (78), and OHAs and insulin (35). A significant improvement in fasting and postprandial blood sugar was observed at 6 months as compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). A total of 39 (19.5%) patients suffered from adverse effects to metformin and insulin. Physical health and physical endurance improved in patients receiving metformin alone or in combination with glipizide as compared to patients receiving other OHAs and/or insulin. Treatment satisfaction, highest in patients receiving metformin and least in those receiving insulin, was unaltered during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: While polypharmacy is evident, using lesser medicines offers better treatment satisfaction and QOL in DM. Periodic assessment of QOL and treatment satisfaction are recommended in DM.