Project Title

Developing and pilot-testing an intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes who are making decisions about starting insulin therapy

Why is this project important?

• The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in Malaysia and globally.
• One important reason of poor sugar control is the delay in stepping up treatment regimen such as insulin therapy. The National Health Morbidity Survey in 2006 showed only 7.2% insulin usage both alone and in combination with oral anti-diabetics despite suboptimal diabetes control.
• There are many barriers in starting insulin treatment which include patient factors such as fear of needle and pain, hypoglycaemia, weight gain, cost and social stigma; doctor factors such as lack of training in insulin initiation; and system factors such as lack of support services and costs.
• Few interventions have been developed to help clinicians and patients overcome these barriers.

Objectives

• To develop an intervention to help patients with type 2 diabetes who are considering insulin therapy to make an informed decision.
• The ultimate aim is to develop a practical decision-making tool which can be evaluated and implemented in the primary care setting across Malaysia.