Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Objective: To assess the prescription pattern of oral anti-diabetic drugs among physicians and to ascertain their professional perspectives of the vildagliptin and its combinations in an Indian clinical context. 
Methods: A cross sectional, multiple-response questionnaire based survey among physicians specialized in managing T2DM in the major Indian cities from June 2022 to December 2022. The study questionnaire included 25 questions about the current opinion, clinical observations, and clinical experience of specialists in managing T2DM. 
Results: About 950 physicians participated in the survey by sharing their opinions/views on the questionnaire. Approximately, 35% experts preferred vildagliptin, metformin and dapagliflozin fixed dose combination in diabetic individuals, in presence of cardiovascular complications and also they preferred when glycated haemoglobin was more than 8% at the time of diagnosis. More than 50% of the physician’s observed this combination reduces the dose of exogenous insulin. Also, more than 65% of the physicians also observed 1-2% HbA1c reduction with the vildagliptin and metformin combination after 3 months of the therapy. Over 38% of the physicians came across 6-10 diabetic individuals with neuropathy in their day to day clinical practice. Nearly 43% of the physicians suggested that among all the exercises, yoga was one of the best exercise for diabetic individuals.
Conclusion: This study concluded that majority of the physicians recommend vildagliptin and metformin as the preferred oral anti-diabetic drug for the early treatment initiation. The most preferred sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus was dapagliflozin. Experts agreed that telemedicine/teleconsultation can play an integral part in managing diabetes mellitus. Patient compliance to regular consumption of oral anti diabetic drug is the most challenging aspect in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus and it was mainly due to lack of patient awareness and education.