Drug Utilization Evaluation of Antidiabetic Drugs in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital: Analysis from a Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by high blood glucose levels and changes in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism due to insulin secretion, action, or both.1 Diabetes affects 537 million persons worldwide in 2021 and its management and selection of antidiabetic drugs is a major health concern. Objectives: The study was aimed to evaluate the prescription pattern of antidiabetic drugs in a tertiary care hospital in Hubballi, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: It was a Prospective randomized controlled study where the participants were randomized into two groups i.e., the interventional or study group and control group. Results: Of the 300 diabetic patients, 150 were included in the control group and another 150 in the observational group in which 218 (72.6%) were males and 82 (27.3%) were females. Males were higher than females. The maximum number of patients were in the age group of 61-70 years, followed by 51-60 years. 175 (58.33%) subjects were taking two medications followed by 82 (27.33%) were receiving three medications. 152 (50.66%) were receiving diabetic medications two times in a day followed 122 (40.66%) were taking once in a day. Out of 300 Patients, 205 (68.33%) patients were prescribed insulin, of which regular insulin was the highest. Conclusion: It was found that metformin and insulin use is greater with higher use among middle-age patients. Regular insulin was the most often used insulin.