However, many elderly patients are often satisfied when their blood sugar is stable, and they think that their condition is well controlled, so they stop taking the drug immediate.

The reasons why they stopped taking the medicine on their own were varied and innumerab.

According to the research report "Influencing Factors of Medication Adherence in Outpatient Diabetic Elderly Patients" [1], people with diabetes will stop taking the drug on their own after their blood sugar has improv.

But no matter what the reason is, the patient stops taking the drug as soon as the blood sugar is stable, which is not good for their overall blood sugar contr.

Long-term high blood sugar or blood sugar "fluctuations",

Sooner or later, multiple organs of the body can't handle it

High blood sugar is only the "tip of the iceberg" of the dangers of diabet.

It can be said that places with blood vessels and nerves may be affected, such as the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, feet, bones, and nerv.

With the development of the disease, it is likely to lead to acute complications or chronic complications of diabet.

Acute complications are mostly critical and severe, so the mortality rate is hi.

Chronic complications mainly include diabetic heart disease, diabetic foot, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopat.

A survey in 2010 showed that amputations caused by diabetes accounted for 23% of all amputations and 55% of non-traumatic amputations in China's top three hospitals [

In short, if people with diabetes don’t control their blood sugar well and stop taking their medicines on their own, their health will inevitably be threaten.

There are "stubborn parents" at home,

What should I do if I stop taking the medicine when my blood sugar is stable?

Elderly patients who do not take medication well and stop medication on their own are referred to as poor/poor medication compliance in professional ter.

The academic guidance of this paper, Director Xiong Lihua of the Department of Endocrinology of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pointed out that in order to improve the medication compliance of elderly patients and avoid their unauthorized withdrawal and reduction, the joint efforts of patients, families and medical staff are need.

Improve the awareness of patients and their families about the knowledge of disease and medication

From the results of two large-scale epidemiological surveys in 2010 and 2013, among the diabetic patients diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria, the awareness rates of diabetes were 31% and 35%, respectively, and the treatment rates were 28% and 32%, respective.

%, the control rates were 37% and 42%, both improved, but still at a low level, especially in rural areas [9-1

Moreover, it is worth noting that among the diagnosed diabetic patients, many people have a low degree of mastery of diabetes-related knowledge and little knowledge of the harm caused by .

At the same time, when they receive drug treatment, they lack a correct understanding of the drug and the importance of insisting on taking the drug, so they are prone to irregular drug use, such as self-stoppi.

Studies have shown that the compliance of the elderly is related to their awareness of the disease [1
Yilmaz and other surveys also found that some elderly people do not have sufficient drug knowledge and lead to poor compliance [1

The reliable source of knowledge about diabetes and medication for elderly people with diabetes is mainly medical sta.

Therefore, patients and their families should—

① Actively participate in publicity and education activities organized by medical staff, such as health lectures, community publicity, e.

, take the initiative to receive and carefully read the disease and drug science booklets issued by the hospital, e.

, to improve the awareness of diabetes and the level of rational drug u.

②Strengthen communication with doctors to obtain correct and comprehensive disease knowledge and medication guidan.

③Work with relevant nursing staff to help elderly patients use online support reasonably, such as following the popular science accounts of hospitals and authoritative institutions, watching live broadcasts of disease popularization,e.

④ Conditional communities or families can improve the contract system for family doctors and nurse teams, so that general practitioners and nurse teams can be integrated into the treatment process of patients and help them gradually improve their poor drug use behavio.

Doctors simplify drug administration and patients use drugs rationally

Studies have shown that medication compliance in elderly diabetic patients is significantly correlated with the type of medication and adverse drug reactions [1

Many patients lack the common sense of medication, and believe that "medicine is a three-part poiso.

In addition, many elderly people with diabetes suffer from a variety of chronic diseases at the same time and require long-term comprehensive treatme.

The types of medicines they take are numerous and complex, and the frequency of taking medicines is hi.

Therefore, they are particularly afraid of the toxic and side effects of medicin.

Over time, they will develop resistance to taking medicines, and then Stop the medication on your o.

In addition, clinical studies have found that, in addition to their own reasons, medication compliance of elderly patients is closely related to whether the doctor's prescription is reasonable and the type of medication patients take [1

Therefore, doctors should simplify the dosing schedule as much as possible when formulating the treatment plan for patients with type 2 diabetes, especially those with other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications [1

For example, metformin is the first-line drug of choice unanimously recommended by major diabetes prevention and control guidelines at home and abroad [17-19], and is currently one of the most widely used oral hypoglycemic agents in the world [1

For the side effects and adverse reactions of drugs that people with diabetes are most worried about, metformin can also submit a satisfactory answer, especially the original metformin, which is safer and easier to ta.

①Metformin itself has no liver and kidney toxicity [17], and it does not damage the liver and kidn.

However, diabetic patients with impaired liver function or renal insufficiency should use it with caution and follow the doctor's advi.

②Metformin also has good safety and tolerabili.

It does not increase the risk of hypoglycemia when used alo.

Most of its gastrointestinal reactions are transient, and long-term use does not increase the risk of hyperlactatemia or lactic acidosis [20- 2

③ The original metformin sustained-release tablet, patients only need to take the drug once a day, which not only simplifies the medication process, is convenient and saves trouble, and is not easy to miss, but also after taking it, the drug effect is slowly dissolved and released in the stomach, while ensuring effective hypoglycemic, It also reduces gastrointestinal discomfort and improves patient complian.

Therefore, the "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in China (2020 Edition)" pointed out: "If there are no contraindications and intolerances, metformin is the first choice and full-course drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and it should always be retained in the diabetes treatment plan (level .

recommended) [17.

Improve the dimension of family support

Diabetes has a long course of disease, and patients are very likely to have negative emotions such as anxiety and depression [23,24], and they are resistant to taking medicin.

In addition, some patients have their own memory loss and poor self-management abili.

If they do not get the attention of their family members, they are more likely to stop taking the drug on their o.

Some data show that the support from family members has a greater impact on medication compliance in elderly patients with diabetes [2

Therefore, to strengthen the communication between patients and their families, especially their children, on the one hand, children can channel their parents’ negative emotions in a targeted manner and help improve their attitude towards taking medicine; on the other hand, parents can get more comfort, encouragement, support and Medication guidan.

In conclusion, in the process of diabetes management, drug therapy is the most important part of the disease management program, and whether patients take the drug on time or not will directly affect the effect of treatment [2

Editor: Li Yu'e

Drawing: Liaoqin

Produced by: "Chinese Family Doctor" magazine

Academic Advisor: Professor Xiong Lihua

Chief physician, postgraduate tutor

Outstanding Young Talents of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Guangdong Province

Vice Chairman of Guangdong Health Care Association

Member of the Standing Committee of Guangdong Geriatrics Professional Committee

Member of the Diabetes Professional Committee of Guangdong Association of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine

Member of the Diabetes Professional Committee of Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine Association

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