Assessment of patient medication adherence among the type 2 diabetes mellitus population with peripheral diabetic neuropathy in South India

OBJECTIVES: The present study attempted to explore the relationship between non-adherence with medication and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in a private hospital located in South India. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out from January 2015 to December 2015. This study included 86 type 2 DM patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The patients were followed-up for three months, once a month. Blood samples were taken to test for fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) and HbA1c. A Morisky scale questionnaire was used to assess patients' medication adherence and a biothesiometer was used to screen the degree to which patients were affected by diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Patient counselling, which focused on the need for maintaining glycaemic control and the importance of medication adherence, was carried out during each follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 120 screened subjects, 86 patients were included in the present study. A majority (76.7%) were overweight, and 51% had DM for the past 11–15 years. ANOVA was used to compare patients' glycaemic status, peripheral diabetic neuropathy screening and medication adherence in all three follow-up visits, and p < 0.0001 was considered as significant. Significant improvement in medication adherence and reduction of the peripheral diabetic neuropathy severity (p < 0.0001) were observed from patients' first to third visits. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education is prudent for improving medication adherence, a result that can potentially promote optimal glycaemic control and can reduce the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with DM. Health-care practitioners play a pivotal role in educating the diabetic population about medication adherence.