One third of patients with diabetes in Austria discontinue treatment

(Image: Pixabay CC0) - A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the Complexity Science Hub Vienna has analysed the actual prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Austria for the first time as part of a study. In addition to identifying clear regional differences, an alarming and previously unknown figure came to light: one in three people suddenly stop treatment and go without medication and/or medical check-ups for at least a year. And, as the study also showed, this group had a higher mortality rate than patients with diabetes who regularly access the care available to them. The results have just been published in the latest edition of Scientific Reports. Until now, data on the prevalence of diabetes in Austria had been based on estimates or surveys. But now, the first ever nationwide scientific study on the incidence of diabetes has pinpointed the exact number of patients who received medication (antihyperglycaemic) and/or underwent medical monitoring of blood glucose levels (HbA1c) between 2012 and 2017. And the process brought to light a group whose size was previously unknown: of the 746,184 patients analysed, some 268,680 - more women (140,960) than men - discontinued treatment and/or monitoring of the disease for at least one year.