Medication Prescription Patterns in a Type 2 Diabetes Disease Management Program, Medellín 2014-2019

Authors

  • Doctor Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá (Colombia)
  • Doctor Universidad CES, Colombia
  • Doctor Universidad CES, Colombia
  • Doctor Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia
  • Doctor Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.01.412.698

Keywords:

Diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes, drug prescriptions, pharmacoepidemiology, metformin, hypoglycemic agents, cretins, insulin, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: The availability of new drugs for diabetes has led to frequent modifications in management guidelines. New therapeutic options necessitate studies to identify whether these new technologies are being used by the indicated patients and whether they achieve the claimed effect.

Objective: To describe the medication prescription patterns of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a disease management program.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study included patients enrolled in a T2D management program in Medellín, Colombia. Sociodemographic and prescription data were extracted from clinical records.

Results: A total of 903 patients, (55% women) with a mean age of 66.0 (SD: 12.9) were analyzed. The average duration of living with T2D was 12.9 (SD: 9.3) years. Metformin was used at some point by 54% of patients, sulfonylureas by 11.8%, and DPP-4i by 21.8%. The use of rapid-acting insulin was 24.5% and that of basal insulin was 40.86%.

Conclusion: Metformin was the most prescribed drug, followed by basal insulin and rapid-acting insulin, whereas moderate amounts of sulfonylureas and DPP-4 inhibitors were used. These findings describe the current treatment patterns in the program and may guide the planning of pharmacotherapeutic interventions in the future.

Author Biographies

  • Doctor, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá (Colombia)

    Doctor en Salud Pública. Investigador, Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá (Colombia). uriel.palacios@mederi.com.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3740-0353

  • Doctor, Universidad CES, Colombia

    Doctor en Epidemiología y Bioestadística. Profesor, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín (Colombia). dfrojas@ces.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2293-0431

  • Doctor, Universidad CES, Colombia

    Doctor en Epidemiología. Investigador, True Consulting, Medellín (Colombia). jaime.ordonez@trueconsulting.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4425-2555

  • Doctor, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia

    Doctor en Economía y Gestión de la Salud. Profesor, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena (Colombia). nalvis@yahoo.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9458-864X

  • Doctor, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia

    Médico endocrinólogo. Profesor, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín (Colombia). josebotero1979@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7478-6048

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Published

2026-01-28

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Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

How to Cite

Medication Prescription Patterns in a Type 2 Diabetes Disease Management Program, Medellín 2014-2019. (2026). SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 42(1), 77-88. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.01.412.698

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