Cross-sectional Survey in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes to Understand Mealtime Insulin Unmet Needs in Japan: The MINUTES-J Study

Abstract Aims This study was conducted to evaluate existing burden and unmet needs related to mealtime insulin (MTI) injection timing among adult Japanese patients with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes. It also aimed to evaluate if a novel MTI could reduce this burden. Methods This study comprised of a qualitative pilot study facilitating development of an online survey item; followed by an online quantitative survey involving T1D, young T2D (yT2D) and elderly T2D (eT2D) patients to assess burden of current MTI timings in Japan. Results Overall, 38% patients (amongst T1D, yT2D and eT2D groups) reported injecting MTI just before start or during meal in the past month. Experiencing lower glucose level/hypoglycemic condition before the meal and forgetting were the main reasons for injecting during/after meal in T1D and T2D patients respectively. Patients reported moderate-to-severe burden in multiple aspects of their lives, associated with current MTI timing. Most patients perceived that this burden would remain the same if a faster acting MTI was available. Conclusions Substantial burden reported by Japanese patients regarding the current MTI timings suggests the need for new MTI products that could achieve optimal post-prandial glucose control at different timings to meet patients’ needs in Japan.