Int J Family Med Prim Care | Volume 2, Issue 6 | Research Article | Open Access

Barriers to Insulin Therapy in Adult Patients with Type Two Diabetes Mellitus at Family Medicine Health Centers

Safa Awad Elkarim1* and Abdelaziz SI2

1Department of Family Medicine, Sudan Medical Specialization Board, Sudan
2Department of Internal Medicine & Endocrinology, Soba University Hospital, Sudan

*Correspondance to: Safa Awad Elkarim 

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Abstract

Background: Type Two Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive disease by nature so most of patients will inevitably require insulin therapy to maintain adequate glycemic control. Unfortunately, initiation of insulin is delayed in many patients who would benefit from it. There are a number of patient’s beliefs and false views regarding insulin therapy which creates barriers to starting insulin. Aim: To study the barriers to insulin initiation from the patient’s perspective. Materials and Methods: This was cross sectional design in East Nile locality Khartoum, between 2019 to 2020. A questionnaire inquiring demographic features, status of insulin initiation, barriers to insulin initiation and knowledge about insulin therapy of T2DM was administered during faceto- face interviews. Results: The study included 307 participants, the majority was females and their ages were range between 45 to 56 years. About (57.7%) of patients had uncontrolled BG with HbA1c more than 7. The commonest barrier to insulin therapy was fear of patients from hypoglycemia (72.0%), followed by insulin should be a final option that when started should not be stopped (64.5%) sixty percent thought that insulin lead to weight gain and (59.9%) of them had needle phobia. Conclusion: Patients concerns and beliefs regarding insulin use are multiple. Lack of adequate information and misconception relating to insulin use, such as benefits and side-effects, appears to be a major factor behind diabetes patient refusal of initiation this therapy.

Keywords:

Barriers; Insulin therapy; Type 2 DM; Family medicine health centers

Citation:

Elkarim SA, Abdelaziz SI. Barriers to Insulin Therapy in Adult Patients with Type Two Diabetes Mellitus at Family Medicine Health Centers. Int J Fam Med Prim Care. 2021; 2(6): 1054..

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