Quality of life and hypoglycemia burden in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on basal-bolus insulin therapy
This paper presents the results of the observational program »Parameters of life quality, symptoms of hypoglycemia and treatment satisfaction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on basal-bolus insulin therapy» (2012-2014). The analysis included 1000 patients. It showed that their quality of life was below that of the general population due to compromised physical, role physical, and role emotional functioning (p<0.001). Hypoglycemia is a serious challenge to the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on basal-bolus insulin therapy. They are characterized by impaired physical, psychological, and social functioning compared with the patients without hypoglycemic episodes (p<0.01). Patients experiencing mild hypoglycemic episodes were not significantly different from those without them. In patients experiencing severe hypoglycemic episodes the quality of life was much worse (ES = 0.22-0.51). The profile of hypoglycemic episodes differed in differentforms of hypoglycemia. The spectrum of symptoms and problems related to hypoglycemia was broader in patients with severe and/or nocturnal hypoglycemia. Patients free from hypoglycemia were less afraid of it than those used to have hypoglycemic episodes (p<0.001). The stronger the fear, the more pronounced disturbances in social functioning, vitality, psychic and general health (p = 0.0001). It is concluded that evaluation of quality of life and hypoglycemia-related symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on basal-bolus insulin therapy allows for comprehensive estimation of the effectiveness of therapy on an individual basis.