for common diabetes drug - study
Māori patients receive fewer prescriptions for the common diabetes medication Metformin than non-Māori despite suffering from the disease at twice the rate, according to a new study by the University of Waikato.
The researchers studied prescriptions from doctors, dispensing by pharmacies, and a marker of blood sugar levels over time which involved more than 1500 patients in the Waikato region.
Metformin is a common medication which lowers blood sugar levels for patients while also preventing 'hypos', where the level of sugar in the blood drops too low and can be dangerous.
GP and Senior Fellow Dr Rawiri Keenan said the study found that it was not a case where Māori were simply not picking up their prescriptions, but rather not getting the prescription in the first place.
"Previous reports have shown that Māori receive less medication than non-Māori, but it is often explained as Māori not picking up scripts or not wanting medication in the first place. Negative stereotypes and attitudes to Māori persist and are maintained by deficit thinking in relation to Māori.
Link to article:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/nat...
