Table 3.
Self-Reported Reasons for Different Persistence Patterns
Total N = 154 | ||
---|---|---|
Continuation (n=52) | ||
Motivations for continuation of basal insulin, n (%) | ||
Improved glycemic control | 41 | 78.8% |
Belief that insulin is best for reducing risk of complications of diabetes | 33 | 63.5% |
Instruction by physician/healthcare provider to continue | 28 | 53.8% |
Improved physical feeling | 23 | 44.2% |
Improved emotional wellbeing | 13 | 25.0% |
Convenience of insulin relative to other diabetes treatments | 12 | 23.1% |
Interruption (n=52) | ||
More than one interruption, n (%) | 40 | 76.9% |
Factors contributing to interruption, n (%) | ||
Weight gain | 18 | 34.6% |
Fear of potential side effects of insulin use | 16 | 30.8% |
Hypoglycemia | 12 | 23.1% |
Inconvenience of using insulin | 12 | 23.1% |
Instruction by physician/healthcare provider to stop | 11 | 21.2% |
Assessing whether diabetes could be managed without insulin | 11 | 21.2% |
Cost of insulin therapy | 10 | 19.2% |
Pain from injections | 9 | 17.3% |
Preference for oral antidiabetic medications | 8 | 15.4% |
Dislike/fear of needles | 7 | 13.5% |
Insufficient glycemic control with insulin | 6 | 11.5% |
Other | 2 | 3.8% |
Factors contributing to restarting basal insulin, n (%) | ||
Persuasion by physician/healthcare provider to restart | 36 | 69.2% |
Persuasion by friends/family to restart | 19 | 36.5% |
Insufficient glycemic control without insulin | 18 | 34.6% |
Resolution of the issue that led to interruption | 8 | 15.4% |
Other | 2 | 3.8% |
Discontinuation (n=50) | ||
Factors contributing to discontinuation, n (%) | ||
Instruction by physician/healthcare provider to stop | 23 | 46.0% |
Weight gain | 15 | 30.0% |
Hypoglycemia | 12 | 24.0% |
Dislike/fear of needles | 10 | 20.0% |
Preference for oral antidiabetic medications | 10 | 20.0% |
Cost of insulin therapy | 10 | 20.0% |
Insufficient glycemic control with insulin | 8 | 16.0% |
Sense that diabetes could be managed without insulin | 7 | 14.0% |
Pain from injections | 6 | 12.0% |
Inconvenience of using insulin | 5 | 10.0% |
Fear of potential side effects of insulin use | 3 | 6.0% |
Perception of insulin use by others | 1 | 2.0% |
Other | 6 | 12.0% |
Factors that could contribute to restarting basal insulin, n (%) | ||
Persuasion by physician/healthcare provider to restart | 27 | 54.0% |
Insufficient glycemic control without insulin | 22 | 44.0% |
Persuasion by friends/family to restart | 12 | 24.0% |
Nothing | 6 | 12.0% |
Other | 2 | 4.0% |
Notes: Continuers had no gaps of ≥7 days in basal insulin treatment. Interrupters stopped basal insulin for ≥7 days within the first 6 months after initiation and since restarted basal insulin. Discontinuers stopped using basal insulin for ≥7 days within the first 6 months after initiation and had not restarted basal insulin by the time of the survey.