PDB75 - The Impact of Memory Problems on Diabetes Treatment in Canada

Abstract

The impact of memory problems (MPs) on patient’s insulin taking behavior, functioning, well-being and diabetes management is not well understood. A 5 country web-based survey was conducted. MPs were defined as: unintentionally forgetting (UF) to take insulin, questioning whether or not insulin had been taken (QT), or questioning how much insulin dose was taken (QD). Data from Canadian respondents were analyzed and compared to the other countries (US, UK, Germany, and China). A total of 350 respondents in Canada completed the survey (74.0% Type 1, 52.0% male, mean age of 37.1 years, mean age of diabetes onset of 24.2). The prevalence of MPs was 60.6% (UF), 76.3% (QT) and 44.6% (QD) in the past month with only approximately 1/3 being confident they knew what to do when having an MP. Between 21.5% (QT) and 37.4%(UF) tested their blood glucose and 32.6% (QD) – 51.6% (QT) skipped their insulin dose and waited for next scheduled dose when experiencing a MP, requiring, on average, between 8.5 (QT)–19.1 (UF) hours for return to normal blood glucose ranges. Patients conducted between 1.9 (QT) –5.0 (UF) extra BG monitoring tests the week following the MP and reported moderate negative impacts on their ability to work, physical and emotional functioning. Up to 13.7% missed a work day (UF) and between 10.8% (QT) and 16.8% (UF) visited their health care provider as a result of MP Compared to respondents in the other countries (N=1404), Canadian respondents were reported significantly longer recovery times for returning to normal blood glucose levels following a MP and were significantly more likely to experience hyperglycemia following UF/QD than patients in other countries (p<.05). These findings suggest that MPs have economic implications, impact patients’ functioning and well-being and may be serious obstacles to optimal diabetes control.