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NCT Number: NCT05933174

Promoting Alternatives to Sulfonylureas to Improve Patient Safety in Type 2 Diabetes

Sulfonylurea medications are unsafe for older patients with diabetes. They are associated not only with hypoglycemia, but also with falls and increased cardiovascular risk. Yet they continue to be prescribed frequently. Indeed, older adults with type 2 diabetes, who are especially prone to adverse effects, are more likely to be prescribed sulfonylureas than younger patients. This is unfortunate since over the past several years, newer, safer, and more effective classes of medications (GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2-inhibitors) have emerged. The investigators acknowledge that sulfonylureas are inexpensive and that their low cost is a driver of continued use. However, the investigators believe patients and providers should have discussions about the risks of sulfonylureas and safer and more effective alternatives, to make diabetes care safer overall in ambulatory settings. Our research is designed to promote such discussions. The investigators will first identify patients taking sulfonylureas regularly. Next, using recommendations from AHRQ and the Canadian Deprescribing Network, the investigators will empower patients to discuss their medications with their providers through a simple question prompt sheet. Patients will be divided into an intervention group which receives explicit prompting questions, and a control group that receives a general brochure on diabetes medications. Health care providers will receive education about newer diabetes medications through case-based discussions and academic detailing. Finally the investigators will measure key outcomes including the proportion of patients who have discussions about sulfonylureas and alternatives, rates of discontinuation, and measures of control of diabetes and associated cardiovascular risks. The investigators will also evaluate the experiences of patients and providers qualitatively through brief, semi-structured interviews. Should our multi-faceted, patient-oriented intervention prove effective in promoting discussions of sulfonylureas and alternatives, and also discontinuation of sulfonylureas and switching to newer alternatives, the investigators will incorporate our prompting questions into routine care for patients taking sulfonylureas. Our intervention can be easily disseminated to other settings and therefore has considerable potential to improve safety among patients with type 2 diabetes nationwide.

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Key information

Conditions

Type2diabetes

Age range

45 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

The objectives of this study are to systematically (a) identify middle-aged and older adults taking SU within a large integrated health system, and empower them to explore alternative, evidence-based treatments with their primary care providers to address and implement the ADA practice guideline as an actionable target to improve patient safety; and (b) engage our primary care providers in a systematic quality implementation and improvement program that includes education about contemporary T2D guideline recommendations, benefits, and drawbacks of different classes of agents, and formulary alternatives to SU. These objectives will be accomplished in the following 3 aims:

  • Empower patients to discuss treatments options with their primary care provider.

Using an electronic data warehouse, the investigators will identify patients aged ≥45 years with type 2 diabetes who are currently prescribed SU and implement a strategy to encourage patients to discuss SU and alternatives with their primary care providers using a question-based prompt sheet. A control group will receive an overview sheet of diabetes medications.

  • Engage primary care providers in a quality implementation and improvement program.

The program includes education about contemporary T2D guideline recommendations, benefits, and drawbacks of different classes of agents, and formulary alternatives to SU. An academic detailer will visit each primary care practice up to twice during the study period to provide targeted education about alternatives to SU to promote safety.

  • Measure key process outcomes and patient-centered outcomes at regular intervals.

Participants will be surveyed every 3 months during their first year of participation to identify if they had discussed alternatives. The investigators hypothesize that half of intervention group patients will have had such discussions compared with only 25% in the control group. Other outcomes will include assessment of hypoglycemia symptoms, discontinuation rates of SU, initiation of new medications, diabetes and financial distress (via surveys), and clinical outcomes (extracted from the electronic medical record) including glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c), body weight, blood pressure, and lipids.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 45 years
  • Type 2 diabetes (diagnosed on or before 12/31/2021)
  • Current/active prescription for one or more SU medications
  • Established care (≥2 visits) with UH primary care provider (PCP) since 2021

Exclusion criteria

  • Type 1 diabetes
  • PCP provides a reason why patient participation is inappropriate (e.g., known cost barriers without any alternatives, prior discussion with patient about alternatives, etc.)
  • Patient unable or unwilling to have conversation with their PCP regarding SU
  • Unable to provide informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Prompt-sheet

Other

Simple prompt sheet with which participants will encouraged to use to guide a conversation with their provider at their next visit for routine diabetes care. These questions are based on recommendations from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Question Builder App and also on recommendations from the Canadian Deprescribing Network which specifically addresses SU use.

Usual education

Other

Control group patients will be sent an information brochure with content from the NIDDK about diabetes medications (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/insulin-medicines-treatments).

Primary outcomes

  1. Proportion of patients who had a conversation with their primary care provider about SU use and alternatives for their diabetes management

    Time frame: 12 months

    Proportion of patients who had a conversation with their primary care provider about SU use and alternatives for their diabetes management

Secondary outcomes

  1. Proportion of patients who switched from a SU to an alternative medication

    Time frame: 12 months

    Proportion of patients who switched from a SU to an alternative medication

  2. Proportion of patients who discontinued a SU

    Time frame: 12 months

    Proportion of patients who discontinued a SU

  3. Proportion of patients who experienced a hypoglycemia event by self-report

    Time frame: 12 months

    Proportion of patients who experienced a hypoglycemia event by self-report

  4. Hb A1c

    Time frame: 12 months

    glycosylated hemoglobin

  5. BMI

    Time frame: 12 months

    body mass index

  6. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic)

    Time frame: 12 months

    Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic)

  7. Lipid levels

    Time frame: 12 months

    Lipid levels

  8. The Personal Financial Well-being Scale

    Time frame: 12 months

    . The financial well-being scale is a free tool to help measure the financial well-being of people you serve. The scale, which was developed and rigorously tested by The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, contains 10 questions to capture how people feel about their financial security and freedom of choice, plus 2 questions to assist with scoring. Responses to the questions can be converted into an overall financial well-being "score" between 0 and 100.

  9. Diabetes Distress Scale

    Time frame: 12 months

    17-item self-report survey to assess an individual's level of stress related to living with diabetes. Each question has an answer rating from 1 ("not a problem") to 5 ("a very serious problem").

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Amanda Davies, MBA

CONTACT

[email protected]

216-844-7635

Ian Neeland, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

216-844-5965

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ian J. Neeland, MD

Other

Collaborators

  • American Heart Association

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 6, 2023
Registry last updated
Nov 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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