Managing type 2 diabetes in France: The ecodia survey

In order to describe the profile and medical management of type 2 diabetes patients in France, a descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in 1 999 among a national random sample of 311 general practitioners and 51 spec ialists. A practitioner questionnaire was designed to collect information o n a representative sample of 4,119 patients presenting with type 2 diabetes . Data collected included demographic and clinical information and a full d escription of diabetes management, over a 6-month retrospective period. Ove r 50% of the patients were more than 67 years old; 54% were male. Diabetes had been diagnosed 8.9 years earlier on average, most frequently (73%) duri ng a visit not related to diabetes' symptoms or complications. 42% of patie nts had a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m(2), 46% were hypertensive (B P > 140-80 mmHg), 53% had a LDL-Cholesterol over 1.3 g/l. Overall, 33% of p atients had at least one diabetic complication. 60% of patients had had at least one HbA1c dosage in the last 6 months. Among them, 31% had a HbA1c le vel over 8% and 35% between 6.5% and 8%. 85% of patients were treated with oral anti-diabetic drugs, 9.5% with diet and exercise only and 5% with insu lin. Sulfonylureas were the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic agent, e ither alone or in combination. This survey confirms that the management of patients with type 2 diabetes i s still often inappropriate in France despite recent progress. Improved dis ease management and monitoring is required in France as in other developed countries.