GLYCEMIC MANAGEMENT AND PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES FOR ANTI-DIABETIC MEDICATIONS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

The current study aims to investigate the glycemic management and prescription practices for anti-diabetic medications in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Within the Department of Internal Medicine at various settings in Pakistan, the current study was a cross-sectional prospective conducted over six months (December 2023–May 2024). The investigation focused on medication regimens, diabetes length, co-occurring conditions, and glycaemic control. Participants with significant renal or hepatic impairment were excluded. The sample size was calculated using the Rao Soft Calculator, and 388 participants were included out of 650 interviewed. Data was gathered using a structured questionnaire, and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. The study involved 388 patients, with 152 (39%) in the 41-50 age range and 129 (33.2%) in the 51-60 age range. The majority of patients were female (53.6%), with a positive family history of diabetes (71.6%). Two antidiabetic medications were prescribed in combination for most cases (50.8%), with metformin being the most commonly given drug (32.5%). Physicians frequently recommended DPP-4 Inhibitor + SGLT-2 Inhibitor + Metformin (12.84%) for treating type-2 diabetes. The study found no significant correlation between glycaemic concentrations and traits like gender, age, and treatment duration, but patients with higher BMI showed better glycaemic control when following medical therapy and improving lifestyles. The research indicates that Pakistan's prescription procedures deviate from both national and international recommendations, leading to a high rate of diabetic complications and an elevated level of multiple medications among individuals.