Why carry out this study?

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japan and Western countries exhibit pathophysiological differences, leading to variations in preferred first-line medications.

There is still limited evidence comparing the impact of initial medication choice and frequency of visits on treatment outcomes and medical costs.

This study compared the long-term effects of the type of initial medication and the initial frequency of visits, on the occurrence of T2D-related complications and medical costs.

What was learned from the study?

No clear benefits on the occurrence of long-term complications were observed for either the choice of initial medication or the frequency of visits. On the other hand, the initial treatment policy could double the medical costs up to the occurrence of event.

The results suggest that for Japanese patients with T2D, especially for those with mild obesity, starting treatment with BG medication and a relatively long observation interval, followed by modifications in treatment policy based on the physician's comprehensive judgment, can achieve equivalent treatment outcomes while reducing medical costs.