Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management in Canada: Is It Improving?

• Published in: Canadian journal of diabetes 2013-04, Vol.37 (2), p.82-89
• Main Authors: Leiter, Lawrence A., MD, Berard, Lori, RN, Bowering, C. Keith, MD, Cheng, Alice Y., MD, Dawson, Keith G., MD, Ekoé, Jean-Marie, MD, Fournier, Carl, MD, Goldin, Lianne, Harris, Stewart B., MD, MPH, Lin, Peter, MD, Ransom, Thomas, MD, MSc, Tan, Mary, MSc, Teoh, Hwee, PhD, Tsuyuki, Ross T., PharmD, MSc, Whitham, Dana, RD, MSc, Woo, Vincent, MD, Yale, Jean-François, MD, Langer, Anatoly, MD, MSc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Pressure; Canada - epidemiology; care gap; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; diabète de type 2; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; glycemic control; guidelines; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; lacunes en matière de soins; lignes directrices; lipides; lipids; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Male; management; maîtrise de la glycémie; Middle Aged; Other; Physicians; Practice Guidelines as Topic; pression artérielle; prise en charge; type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1499-2671; 2352-3840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2013.02.055

Abstract Objective To gain insight into the current management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by Canadian primary care physicians. Method A total of 479 primary care physicians from across Canada submitted data on 5123 type 2 diabetes patients whom they had seen on a single day on or around World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2012. Results Mean glycated hemoglobin (A1C) was 7.4%, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was 2.1 mmol/L and blood pressure (BP) was 128/75 mm Hg. A1C ≤7.0% was met by 50%, LDL-C ≤2.0 mmol/L by 57%, BP 3 drugs, respectively, with 59% prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and 35% angiotensin II receptor blockers. Conclusions The Diabetes Mellitus Status in Canada survey highlights the persistent treatment gap associated with the treatment of type 2 diabetes and the challenges faced by primary care physicians to gain glycemic control and global vascular protection in these patients. It also reveals a higher use of insulin therapy in primary care practices relative to previous surveys. Practical strategies aimed at more effectively managing type 2 diabetes patients are urgently needed.