[Quality of life and non-insulin-dependent diabetes]

In diabetes, the links between long-term complications and chronic hyperglycaemia and the risk of hypoglycaemia during intensive treatment have been well-documented. However, the potential short- or long-term benefits of glycaemic control on quality of life and cognitive functions have generally been reported as minimal or nil. Patients do not perceive the connection between better glycaemic control and quality of life. The potential advantages of Ozidia, whether in terms of glycaemic control, tolerance or ease of use, suggest that this treatment may provide improved quality of life. Two studies have investigated this possibility. The first, carried out over a 16-week period in the United States, was a randomised double-blind Ozidia vs placebo study in 594 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) diabetic patients to evaluate the respective influences of glycaemic control, symptoms of hyperglycaemia and side-effects of treatment on quality of life. The results were important, indicating a decrease in short-term clinical symptoms and an improvement in the quality of life, in correlation with decreased HbA1C. The quality of life of NIDDM patients can be improved by stricter glycaemic control, and thus can modify in the choice of therapeutic strategies and cost-benefit evaluation of intensive glycaemic control. The second study now under way in France concerns an evaluation of the quality of life of NIDDM patients before and after treatment with Ozidia. More than 600 diabetologists are involved, and the study should include 1,500 patients. The purpose is to show that Ozidia effectively improves quality of life by encouraging treatment compliance and improving treatment effectiveness. Thanks to self-monitoring of glycaemia, patients can measure the efficacy of their treatment regularly at various times of the day. A dose 5 to 15 mg/day of Ozidia is administered in this open 12-week study. The results will not be available before the end of 1997.