Most sensitive to the countryside patients on insulin "You have diabetes! Hold 7 to prevent complications"

The organizers of the campaign "You have diabetes! Hold 7 to prevent complications," take a positive assessment of their action but note more feedback from patients treated with insulin, according to the results presented in Paris at a press conference.

Diabetes and its complications

The aim of the campaign is to understand the importance of diabetic patients maintain a glycated hemoglobin below 7% in order to avoid diabetes complications (renal failure, cardiovascular problems, amputation, achieving the retina ...).

The measurement of glycated hemoglobin, also called glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1c or A1c reflects the amount of sugar that circulated during the last three months in the blood. It is the best indicator of a good control of the disease to a normal average blood sugar.

"It was a challenge to run a campaign on a subject so abstruse," admits Dr. William Carpenter, vice-president of the French Diabetes Association (AFD).

For the complete, three organizations have joined forces: AFD, French Language Association for the Study of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases (Alfédiam), and the Institute Aventis.

"This is the first time that would gather around a single action physicians (Alfédiam) patients (AFD) and industrial (Aventis Institute)," said Professor Gérard Slama, president of the Alfédiam.

A CSA survey, conducted three hundred diabetics, 50 percent GPs and diabetologists before and after the campaign, reveals that it has improved the knowledge of the glycated hemoglobin.

The glycated hemoglobin is known by 25% of type 2 diabetics

Two-thirds of those contacted have at least seen and / or heard the campaign. But its impact is different depending on the type of patient.

Most patients are responsive insulin. The type 1 diabetes and 58% are to know what the A1c after the campaign (against 48% previously) and type 2 diabetes treated with insulin 33% against 19% before the campaign.

The type 2 diabetes treated with oral antidiabetic rose only 10% to 17% as they go just a lower threshold.

Patients treated with insulin (40% of type 1 diabetics and 30% of type 2 diabetes) are also better able to give the correct glycated hemoglobin level after the campaign compared to other diabetic patients (15%).

That's why the second version of the campaign in the print and radio media tried to target all diabetics, including those considering reached a "small" diabetes.

These results, although positive, remain modest. Indeed, patients who are not only less affected by the campaign but have the worst knowledge of HbA1c are the most numerous reality.

However, the organizers are satisfied. "The risk was not understood by patients or patients apparently are able to understand," concludes Viguier-Claire Petit, director of the Diabetes Division Aventis.

Another pitfall apparently avoided: "We were also concerned the reaction of physicians face in this campaign but they responded very well." The majority saw and heard the campaign and found it interesting.

Some testified that they found a better response from their patients during consultations after the campaign, and more requests for information.

"The goal was not to take the place of the doctor but to launch an open patient / physician dialogue," said Dr. Carpenter.

1800 calls to call center

Number available to patients and physicians collected 1800 calls throughout the country: 78% from 18% of patients and pharmacists.

"The success of the operation has been emulated," announces Viguier-Claire Petit, "our country has been taken up in England where she received an award from the British Diabetic Association."

However, this type of campaign has its limits. It is difficult to reach people with low socio-economic level in this type of campaign, which is all the more regrettable that patients at risk for diabetes and many diabetics are precisely those disadvantaged.

"The people who come to the hospital to treat Gonesse is not reached by this type of campaign," laments Monique Martinez, diabetologist at CH Gonesse.

More targeted campaigns may occur, particularly at regional level. Diabetic patients are strong effect unevenly distributed over the territory. They are more numerous in the Dom-Tom, Corsica or the north / northeast.