The Switching from Basal-Bolus Insulin Therapy to Combination of Dulaglutide and Basal Insulin Improves Diabetes Therapy-Related Quality of Life (DTR-QOL) in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

A subjective assessment of patients' treatment Quality of Life (QOL) is an important factor to consider when assessing the efficacy of diabetes treatment. We investigated whether or not switching from basal-bolus therapy to dulaglutide and basal insulin combination treatment improved the QOL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We utilized the Diabetes Therapy-Related QOL (DTR-QOL) questionnaire to define changes in the QOL. The DTR-QOL questionnaire were administered before switching therapy and one month after switching. A total of 11 patients were enrolled in the study. The analysis using the DTR-QOL showed that this switching therapy significantly improved the patients' "burden on social and daily activities", "anxiety and dissatisfaction with treatment" and "hypoglycemia". Switching therapy was also able to keep the HbA1c levels elevated for three months in this study. Switching from basal-bolus therapy to dulaglutide and basal insulin combination treatment improved the DTR-QOL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without affecting their glycemic control.