Type 2 Diabetes Medication Management Improves Among American Indians & Alaska Natives, Reducing Severe Diabetes Complications

Among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with type 2 diabetes being treated through the Indian Health Service (IHS), the types of prescribed anti-diabetic medications changed between 2009 and 2013, which was linked to a reduction in severe diabetes-related acute complications requiring emergency room visits or hospitalizations. During this period, prescriptions for metformin increased from 56.0% in 2009 to 60.5% in 2013. Prescriptions for insulin increased from 31.4% to 35.9%, but safer insulin subtypes of long-acting insulin (54.4% to 68.5%) and rapid-acting insulin (23.0% to 38.8 . . .