Table 3.
Description and frequency of expected benefits of diabetes medications from adult participants with type 2 diabetes and hypertension on oral medications from a primary care clinic (N = 60).
| “What benefits do you expect to receive from taking diabetes medicine?” | n (%)a |
|---|---|
| Short-term benefits | 46 (76.7) |
| Control my sugars | 42 (70.0) |
| Delay the need for insulin | 6 (10.0) |
| Decrease dizziness | 2 (3.3) |
| Decrease blurry vision | 1 (1.7) |
| Decrease sweatiness | 1 (1.7) |
| Decrease coma | 1 (1.7) |
| Decrease thirst | 1 (1.7) |
| Weight loss | 1 (1.7) |
| Long-term benefits | 22 (36.7) |
| Decrease risk of complications (in general) | 7 (11.7) |
| Decrease risk of amputation | 9 (15.0) |
| Decrease risk of eye disease | 8 (13.3) |
| Decrease risk of kidney disease | 6 (10.0) |
| Improve overall health | 6 (10.0) |
| Decrease risk of heart disease | 5 (8.3) |
| Decrease risk of stroke | 5 (8.3) |
| Live longer | 4 (6.7) |
| Decrease risk of nerve problems | 1 (1.7) |
| Decrease risk of bladder problems | 1 (1.7) |
| Misconceptions | 17 (28.3) |
| To be able to stop taking diabetes medications | 14 (23.3) |
| Freedom to eat whatever I want | 2 (3.3) |
| Decrease risk of liver disease | 1 (1.7) |
a
Column does not total 100% because participants were asked to name as many medication benefits as possible.