The cost and inconvenience of treatment for diabetes could be forcing many sufferers to risk their long-term health, according to a new study.
Researchers in Chicago found that many people with the disease often neglect their treatment because it is such a burden on their daily lives.
The study, published in Diabetes Care, says more efficient, convenient treatment for chronic diabetes is needed to encourage sufferers not to compromise their health. Its author, Elbert Huang, said: "The people who care for patients with a chronic disease like diabetes think about that disease and about preventing long-term complications.
"The people who have a chronic disease think about their immediate lives, which includes the day-to-day costs and the inconvenience of a multi-drug regimen.
"The consequences are often poor compliance, which means long-term complications, which will then require more medications," Mr Huang said.
A typical diabetes patient may have to take several medicines a day, including two or three types of pill as well as insulin shots to maintain their blood sugar levels.
Despite this growing reliance on complex multi-drug regimes, the study found 20 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes still had poorly controlled glucose levels. A further 33 per cent had poorly controlled blood pressure and 40 per cent had poorly controlled cholesterol.