Living With Type 2 Diabetes

We describe treatment outcomes and considerations important to people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Canada, as shared in patient input given for past CADTH Reimbursement Reviews. Diabetes Canada, Type 2 Diabetes Experience Exchange, and Patient Commando worked with us to create this report.

People living with T2DM reported that the condition is challenging to manage and negatively impacts their lives. They desire treatments that prevent high blood sugar levels, help them lose weight, and improve their mental state and energy. They also want to take fewer medications less often, and want these drugs to be easy to use. They hope treatments can prevent needing blood sugar checks, injections, and insulin. They want the freedom to eat and do what they want, when they want. They also desire treatments that cause little to no side effects, especially low blood sugar, weight gain, and gastrointestinal or urogenital issues.

People with T2DM emphasized that treatments need to be more accessible and affordable in Canada. They stressed the importance of health care providers showing them respect and using effective communication. They also want more knowledge to make informed decisions about treatments and how to use them safely. Finally, they emphasized the importance of personalized treatment and a variety of choices.

Recognizing that past input was missing the experiences of Black people, Indigenous people, and other people of colour; people living in poverty or with low income; people living in rural and remote communities; children and adolescents and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, among others, this report discusses existing literature on their perspectives.

This learning project provided an opportunity for CADTH to explore patient input in a new but rigorous way outside of the time constraints of Reimbursement Reviews for specific drugs.