Newly Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes? Be Sure Your Doctor Prescribes a Generic First

According to a study of patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, 35 percent of the time their physicians did not follow the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guideline that calls for prescribing a generic drug first. The study, conducted by researchers from CVS Caremark, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, reviewed the pharmacy claims of 254,000 patients who were started on a diabetes medication in January 2006 and December 2008. One-third of the treatment regimens did not adhere to the ADA guideline.

The take-away? If you are newly diagnosed and your doctor prescribes a medication, ask if it is a generic. If it is not, ask why. There may be a valid reason, but it’s in the best interest of both your health and your pocketbook to ask.

Source: American Journal of Medicine, February 23, 2012

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