Treatment satisfaction with insulin glargine in patients with diabetes mellitus in a university hospital clinic in Sweden

AbstractBackground: Few studies evaluate patients’ perspectives when a new drug is introduced to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The clinical role of a new insulin treatment, in terms of the relationship between higher cost and better treatment outcomes (as defined from the patient perspective) has been discussed. We sought to explore patient satisfaction with a new insulin treatment (insulin glargine). At its launch in 2002/3 it was purported to provide constant, peakless insulin release following once- or twice-daily administration, thus leading to fewer hypoglycaemic episodes while providing metabolic control equivalent to that achieved with NPH human basal insulin.Aims: To investigate the indications used for prescription of a new drug and its clinical effects on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, perceived hypoglycaemic events and patient satisfaction.Methods: The Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (Status Version, DTSQ-s), which measures satisfaction with treatment...