How Diabetes Patients Perceive Insulin Therapy Across Disease Types | Research

The takeaway

Perceptions of insulin therapy differ between type 1, type 2, and prediabetic patients, with negative perceptions potentially delaying necessary treatment.

Perceptions differ by type
Type 1, type 2, and prediabetic patients have distinct patterns of insulin therapy perceptions

What the researchers found

Insulin therapy perceptions differ significantly between type 1, type 2, and prediabetic patients, with negative perceptions common across groups and potentially delaying treatment.

Why it matters

Negative insulin perceptions delay treatment initiation, leading to worse outcomes. Targeted counseling based on patient type could improve acceptance.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital (December 2023 onward) assessing insulin therapy perceptions across diabetes types.

What this study cannot tell us

Single-center study — perceptions may vary by culture, healthcare system, and insurance coverage. Cross-sectional design captures perceptions at one time point.

How to read the evidence

Cross-sectional survey study — provides descriptive data on perceptions but cannot track how they change over time.

When this study was published

Published in 2026; addresses an ongoing barrier to diabetes treatment.

The bigger picture

As GLP-1 drugs reduce the need for insulin in some patients, understanding insulin perceptions also helps clinicians frame treatment alternatives and transitions.

Questions still open

Do GLP-1 drugs reduce negative insulin perceptions by offering alternatives?
Which specific fears about insulin are most common in each patient group?

Common questions

Why do people fear insulin?

Common fears include needle phobia, weight gain, hypoglycemia, perceived treatment failure, and the belief that insulin means disease progression. These fears can delay necessary treatment.

Are insulin fears different for type 1 vs type 2 diabetes?

Yes — this study found different perception patterns across diabetes types. Type 1 patients have different concerns than type 2 or prediabetic patients, suggesting counseling should be tailored to each group.

Read the original research

Determination of insulin therapy perceptions in patients with diabetes mellitus and prediabetes attending the diabetes outpatient clinic.

BMC endocrine disorders

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Cakir, Ahmet; Memis, Hasan; Ozdemir-Ayduran, Nesligül; Tarin, Serenay; Evren, Bahri. (2026). Determination of insulin therapy perceptions in patients with diabetes mellitus and prediabetes attending the diabetes outpatient clinic.. BMC endocrine disorders. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-026-02205-1