For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Diabetes drugs not reaching patients who need them
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Diabetes drugs not reaching patients who need them
Wednesday 18 August 2021, 03:30 AM

The data confirm a significant equity gap with regard to uplift of dispensed diabetes medicines and a focus needs to be on helping people take their medication
Key points, Just 31 per cent of diabetes patients prescribed metformin are picking up a good supply, according to data released by He Ako Hiringa.
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Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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References
1. Selak V, Stewart T, Jiang Y, et al. Indigenous health worker support for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of the Mana Tū programme. BMJ Open 2018;8: e019572 doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019572
2. Horsburgh S, Sharples K, Barson D, et al. Patterns of metformin monotherapy discontinuation and reinitiation in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in New Zealand. Plos One 16(4): e0250289.