Please can you give an introduction to the online poll that was recently conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company with physicians treating type 2 diabetics in Japan, China, India and South Korea? What were the key aims of this poll?
The rate of Type 2 Diabetes is rapidly increasing, particularly in Asian countries which make up more than 60 percent of the world’s diabetes population. So it’s really important physicians feel confident managing this chronic condition in their daily clinical practice.
We conducted a poll of around 800 physicians across four Asian countries; Japan, China, India and South Korea to get a clearer picture on how these physicians perceive Type 2 Diabetes management and what they consider when treating their patients.
We announced the results in parallel to the recent 5th Scientific Meeting of the Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes.
Finding out that physicians and people with Type 2 Diabetes need more information for managing the condition, as well as the key risk factors and complications physicians consider when deciding treatment is important for us to ensure we provide them with the support they need.
What were the main findings of the poll?
The most striking response from the physicians was that the complexity of Type 2 Diabetes management is underestimated with over three quarters of respondents highlighting this as a concern.
An overwhelming 90 percent believe that both patients and physicians could gain from additional medical information and patient support materials.
The poll showed physicians believe risk factors, such as obesity, smoking and hypertension are important when deciding on the best management plan for Type 2 Diabetes.
Ninety-four percent of physicians consider cardiovascular risk management as a key deciding factor, in addition to the ‘number of doses per day’, which was highlighted by 50 percent of respondents.
Were you surprised by any of these results?
It is no surprise that physicians regarded Type 2 Diabetes management as complex. Almost half of the people with Type 2 Diabetes are undiagnosed. At diagnosis, approximately 40 percent already have some form of organ damage.
Even though the results were not surprising, they have given us a unique glimpse on how physicians perceive the day-to-day management of Type 2 Diabetes in Asia, in addition to identifying the different risk factors and long-term complications they consider.
Why do you think many physicians believe the complexity of type 2 diabetes management is currently underestimated? How do you think the management of type 2 diabetes can be improved?
Type 2 Diabetes management is complex with many factors to consider aside from lowering blood glucose. Due to the progressive nature of this chronic disorder, it is important that each person with Type 2 Diabetes receives tailored support so they can lead a life uninterrupted by the condition.
Physicians find it extremely difficult to deliver the all-encompassing support a person needs with the limited time available to them. So it’s no surprise the results show physicians would like tools to help maximise the short time they have available.
Tools which help create a partnership between physicians and people living with Type 2 Diabetes and would allow them to choose the best individual management plan together. We’re looking into how we can provide tools which support patients and physicians in this way.
What impact do you think the findings from this poll will have?
The results highlight the need for further support required by physicians and patients alike. Type 2 Diabetes is not an easy condition to manage and this is a call to action for companies such as ours. The Diabetes Alliance is committed to providing ongoing and relevant support to both physicians and people living with Type 2 Diabetes.
How do the results of this poll compare to previous polls in other countries?
Earlier this year, we conducted a similar online poll surveying more than 1,000 physicians across eight European countries. Results from the Asian poll closely echoed those of the European poll.
Physicians in Europe also highlighted the impact of cardiovascular risk as key in treating Type 2 Diabetes. Almost three quarters of the surveyed European physicians believed cardiovascular risk management is underestimated in people with Type 2 Diabetes and 87 percent said they considered cardiovascular risk when making treatment decisions.
What do you think the future holds for managing type 2 diabetes?
The most important goal for the future is to ensure that physicians managing Type 2 Diabetes and those individuals living with this chronic condition are given the tools and support they need to choose the best treatment possible and to prevent complications.
We hope to find Type 2 Diabetes treatments which not only focus on lowering blood glucose, but also reduce cardiovascular risk factors, in addition to long-term complications, which were considered important for the physicians in this poll.
Physicians should also continue to get the most relevant information they need, so that they can carefully evaluate the full spectrum of care required by each individual and make the most appropriate treatment recommendations.
Where can readers find more information?
More information about the Asia poll conducted can be found at the News page of the Boehringer Ingelheim corporate website: http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/news/news_releases/press_releases/2013/06_november_2013_diabetes.html.
For further information about Type 2 Diabetes, in addition to the most current statistics on the prevalence and incidence, please visit the website of The International Diabetes Federation: www.idf.org.
About Professor Klaus Dugi
Prof. Klaus Dugi, MD, is Corporate Senior Vice-President Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim. His responsibilities include Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Development from First in Man to Registration, Medical Affairs, Clinical Operations, and Biometry and Data Management for Boehringer Ingelheim.
During his more than 10 years at BI, Prof. Dugi has previously served as Corporate Vice President Medical Affairs and Vice President Therapeutic Area Metabolic Diseases.
Prior to joining Boehringer Ingelheim, Prof. Dugi was head of the Metabolic Outpatient Clinic at Heidelberg University Hospital.
Prof. Dugi qualified in Medicine at Philipps University Marburg and between 1991 and 1996 spent more than four years doing basic and applied biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, USA.
Prior to joining Boehringer Ingelheim, Prof. Dugi practiced Internal Medicine and Endocrinology for six years at Heidelberg University Hospital and also conducted clinical and pre-clinical research in the fields of atherosclerosis, diabetes, and lipid metabolism.
Prof. Dugi holds a Professor in Medicine at Heidelberg University and continues to teach general Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology.
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