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Improving glycaemic control in African diabetic patients on insulin: a resource-free approach
- Source :
- Tropical doctor. 39(1)
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- In the resource-poor areas of the tropics, diabetic patients requiring insulin are often treated with once-daily injections of intermediate-acting insulin. Glycaemic control on this regime is usually poor. We trialled a simple change to twice-daily insulin (same total daily dose, two-thirds given in morning, and one-third in evening) in a group of 20 Ethiopian diabetic patients treated in this way. Nurse support and contact, and self-glucose monitoring were not available. After three months, the haemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) had improved from 10.5 ± 1.8 to 8.0 ± 1.5% (P < 0.001). No improvement occurred in the 20 control patients who remained on once-daily insulin. Among the twice-daily insulin group there was a small increase in weight and mild hypoglycaemic episodes. However, all patients were very satisfied and wished to continue the new system. We conclude that a simple change from once- to twice-daily insulin, without monitoring or support, can lead to a significant improvement in the overall glycaemic control, and is suitable for resource-limited tropical countries.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Blood Glucose
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Evening
medicine.medical_treatment
Treatment outcome
Blood sugar
Drug Administration Schedule
Young Adult
Diabetes mellitus
Internal medicine
Diabetes Mellitus
Medicine
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents
Insulin
Young adult
Poverty
Morning
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Total Daily Dose
Infectious Diseases
Endocrinology
Treatment Outcome
Female
Ethiopia
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00494755
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Tropical doctor
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6b59f472f4dcb6299d2279664ba2948d