Research Article

Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors

Volume: 6 Number: 2 July 9, 2026
TR EN

Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess treatment adherence according to antidiabetic treatment regimens and its associations with medication burden and clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2024 in the endocrinology department of a tertiary care hospital. Adult patients diagnosed with T2DM for at least one year were included. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, diabetes-related complications, treatment and lifestyle characteristics, laboratory parameters (HbA1c and C-peptide), and self-reported adherence were recorded. Treatment adherence was assessed using the validated Turkish version of the Treatment Adherence in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (TAT2DM) Scale. The study was approved by the XXX Ethics Committee (approval no: 2023/5237). Results: The study included 198 patients with T2DM. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy was the most frequent complication. The mean TAT2DM score was 85.2 ± 9.2. HbA1c levels were positively correlated with the total number of medications, oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and insulin products (p < 0.001), while C-peptide levels were negatively correlated with the number of insulin products (p = 0.010). The total TAT2DM score was negatively associated with the number of insulin products (p = 0.008) and adherence was significantly higher among patients who exercised regularly (p = 0.024). Treatment adherence and HbA1c levels differed significantly across antidiabetic regimens, with higher adherence and HbA1c observed in patients receiving combined insulin and OAD therapy (p <0.05). Conclusion: Treatment adherence and glycemic outcomes vary across antidiabetic treatment regimens, supporting the need for personalized diabetes management.

Keywords

Project Number

NA

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Inonu University Health Sciences Scientific Research Ethics Committee-Non-Clinical Studies Ethics Committee (approval number: 2023/5237, date: 12.12.2023).

Thanks

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases team for their support in this study. During the preparation of this work, we used ChatGPT – GPT-5.2 on February 1, 2026, for language checks. After using this service, we reviewed and edited the content as necessary and assume full responsibility for the content of the publication.

References

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  5. 5. Brown MT, Bussell JK. Medication adherence: WHO cares? Mayo Clin Proc. Apr 2011;86(4):304-14.
  6. 6. Lee SK, Shin DH, Kim YH, Lee KS. Effect of Diabetes Education Through Pattern Management on Self-Care and Self-Efficacy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(18).
  7. 7. Pourhabibi N, Mohebbi B, Sadeghi R, et al. Determinants of Poor Treatment Adherence among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Limited Health Literacy: A Scoping Review. J Diabetes Res. 2022;2022:2980250.
  8. 8. Vandenbosch J, Van den Broucke S, Schinckus L, et al. The impact of health literacy on diabetes self-management education. Health Education Journal. 2018;77(3):349-362.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 9, 2026

Submission Date

February 24, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 29, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 2

APA
Çakır, A., Memiş, H., Telli, A., Tanrıkul, E., & Özdemir-Ayduran, N. (2026). Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors. Pharmata, 6(2), 45-53. https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1896761
AMA
1.Çakır A, Memiş H, Telli A, Tanrıkul E, Özdemir-Ayduran N. Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors. Pharmata. 2026;6(2):45-53. doi:10.62425/pharmata.1896761
Chicago
Çakır, Ahmet, Hasan Memiş, Ahsen Telli, Esra Tanrıkul, and Nesligül Özdemir-Ayduran. 2026. “Treatment Adherence in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations With Clinical and Metabolic Factors”. Pharmata 6 (2): 45-53. https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1896761.
EndNote
Çakır A, Memiş H, Telli A, Tanrıkul E, Özdemir-Ayduran N (July 1, 2026) Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors. Pharmata 6 2 45–53.
IEEE
[1]A. Çakır, H. Memiş, A. Telli, E. Tanrıkul, and N. Özdemir-Ayduran, “Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors”, Pharmata, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 45–53, July 2026, doi: 10.62425/pharmata.1896761.
ISNAD
Çakır, Ahmet - Memiş, Hasan - Telli, Ahsen - Tanrıkul, Esra - Özdemir-Ayduran, Nesligül. “Treatment Adherence in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations With Clinical and Metabolic Factors”. Pharmata 6/2 (July 1, 2026): 45-53. https://doi.org/10.62425/pharmata.1896761.
JAMA
1.Çakır A, Memiş H, Telli A, Tanrıkul E, Özdemir-Ayduran N. Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors. Pharmata. 2026;6:45–53.
MLA
Çakır, Ahmet, et al. “Treatment Adherence in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations With Clinical and Metabolic Factors”. Pharmata, vol. 6, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 45-53, doi:10.62425/pharmata.1896761.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Çakır, Hasan Memiş, Ahsen Telli, Esra Tanrıkul, Nesligül Özdemir-Ayduran. Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Associations with Clinical and Metabolic Factors. Pharmata. 2026 Jul. 1;6(2):45-53. doi:10.62425/pharmata.1896761

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