Endocrinologists and Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Struggle to Keep Blood Sugar within Recommended Range Yet Remain Hopeful and Optimistic About the Future of Disease Management
Endocrinologists and Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Struggle to Keep Blood Sugar within Recommended Range Yet Remain Hopeful and Optimistic About the Future of Disease Management
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) today announced results of two recent online surveys, conducted by The Harris Poll that assessed the attitudes of endocrinologists and adults living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the United States. The T1D Unmet Needs surveys examined the support, management and treatment of the disease and why it is important to continue prioritizing and advancing innovation to help people achieve better outcomes. More than 70 percent of endocrinologists and adults with T1D surveyed stated that recent advances in T1D give them hope that there will eventually be a cure, yet an overwhelming majority agreed that more advances are currently needed to help improve the lives of those with the disease. These national surveys were supported by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi US.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8364251-aace-type-1-diabetes-management/
Specifically, these findings reveal:
- While 73 percent of both endocrinologists and adults with T1D stated that recent advances in the T1D space give them hope for a cure, they still seek more; with 87 percent of those with T1D and 93 percent of endocrinologists agreeing with the sentiment that more advances are needed to improve the lives of those with T1D.
- Additional data show that nearly all endocrinologists (97%) said that their patients want options to help them better manage their disease, with 82 percent of those with T1D in agreement.
“Over the past five years, the type 1 diabetes landscape has vastly evolved. With new technology, genetic research and testing, and finger stick-free monitoring devices, it’s truly an exciting and unprecedented time in healthcare, and in diabetes in particular. However, the data from these surveys are an important reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done to meet the needs of the type 1 diabetes community,” said George Grunberger, MD, FACP, FACE chairman at Grunberger Diabetes Institute in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. “Physicians should ensure they are working in partnership with their patients to review new research that might address both therapeutic and disease management challenges.”
Despite Progress, People Living with T1D Still Struggle with the Impact the Disease Has on Their Lives
For those living with T1D, everyday situations that other people take for granted can be challenging and ultimately have an adverse impact on their lives. For instance, 88 percent of adults with T1D said that living with the disease adds stress to their lives and that they avoid going out to eat (57%) or attending social gatherings with family and friends (49%) because of their disease.
These challenges extend into disease management, as adults living with T1D said they struggle the most with keeping their blood sugar within recommended range (58%) and achieving individualized target A1C levels (48%). Endocrinologists agreed that these are the top things their patients struggle with. Approximately 77 percent of adults with T1D wish they had a medication to help them stay within the recommended blood sugar range for longer periods of time. Endocrinologists are not immune to the effects these challenges have on their patients as 93 percent wish there was more they could do for them.
“These findings highlight the ongoing need to provide support to adults living with type 1 diabetes,” said Rachele Berria, MD, PhD, head of US Diabetes Medical Affairs at Sanofi. “We have collaborated with AACE and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals to ensure these unmet needs are brought to the forefront in the hopes that increased awareness will help to transform care for people living with type 1 diabetes.”
Opportunities Exist to Improve Education and Cross-Share Knowledge
Almost all endocrinologists (97%) said they keep their patients informed of advances in T1D and, overall, adults with T1D and physicians were aligned in many aspects of their views of T1D. However, opportunities exist to further align as evident by some of the biggest gaps in knowledge including:
- Virtually all endocrinologists (99%) are knowledgeable about non-insulin pathways, yet less than half (45%) of those with T1D knew about them.
- Regarding other advances, one third of endocrinologists (32%) believe “artificial pancreases” have the greatest potential for positive impact on their patients with T1D but many adults living with T1D (28%) don’t know anything about that advancement.
“These findings represent an opportunity to enhance education and cross-share information about innovation that might ultimately improve type 1 diabetes care and outcomes,” said Pablo Lapuerta, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Lexicon. “Lexicon and our partners at Sanofi are committed to bettering the lives of the millions of people around the world living with diabetes. We understand that living with type 1 diabetes is an everyday challenge and through our collaboration with AACE, we hope to call attention to the unresolved needs of the type 1 diabetes community, specifically.”
For more information on the challenges faced by people living with T1D, please visit gobeyondinsulinalonet1d.com.
About the Surveys
The research was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) in collaboration with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi, among patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and endocrinologists who treat T1D patients within the United States. The patient survey was conducted May 21 through June 6, 2018 among 255 adults age 18+ who have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional with T1D. Figures for age by gender, income, race/ethnicity, region, size of household, marital status and employment status were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. The healthcare professional survey was conducted May 22 through June 11, 2018 among 253 endocrinologists who see at least one patient with T1D in a month. Results were weighted for gender, by years in practice, and by region where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
About American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 7,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. Visit our site at www.aace.com.
About Sanofi:
Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN) (NYSE: SNY) is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.
Sanofi, Empowering Life
About Lexicon Pharmaceuticals
Lexicon (NASDAQ: LXRX) is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that is applying a unique approach to gene science based on Nobel Prize-winning technology to discover and develop precise medicines for patients with serious, chronic conditions. Through its Genome5000™ program, Lexicon scientists have studied the role and function of nearly 5,000 genes over the last 20 years and have identified more than 100 protein targets with significant therapeutic potential in a range of diseases. Through the precise targeting of these proteins, Lexicon is pioneering the discovery and development of innovative medicines to safely and effectively treat disease. In addition to its first commercial product for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome, Lexicon has a pipeline of promising drug candidates in clinical and pre-clinical development in diabetes and metabolism and neuropathic pain. For additional information please visit www.lexpharma.com.
Contact: Glenn Sebold (904) 353-7878 ext. 122 gsebold@aace.com
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SOURCE The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
Company Codes: EuronextParis:SAN, NYSE:SNY, NASDAQ-NMS:LXRX
