Willingness of people with Type 2 diabetes to start insulin therapy : evidence from the South African Tshwane Insulin Project (TIP)

Abstract

AIMS : To determine factors associated with ‘hypothetical willingness’ to start insulin among people with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS : A quantitative cross-sectional study with insulin-naïve T2DM patients at 23 primary care facilities in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Data collected included demographic and clinical data, willingness to start insulin, attitudes and barriers to insulin therapy. Factors associated with unwillingness to start insulin therapy were explored using a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS : Of 468 T2DM study patients (mean age 57.2, SD = 11.3 years), more than half (51.9%) expressed unwillingness to starting insulin therapy. Unwillingness was associated with negative attitudes (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.12–1.55, p = 0.001) and reluctance (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.27–1.57, p < 0.001) rather than age, sex, education or diabetes duration. The strongest reasons for patient unwillingness were injection anxieties, fear of needles, insufficient knowledge of insulin, feeling unable to cope with insulin and concerns about out-of-pocket costs. CONCLUSIONS : The prospect of insulin therapy disturbs patients’ sense of self and their psychological wellbeing. The high prevalence of psychological insulin resistance among these T2DM patients needs to be addressed for effective diabetes management.