Adherence issues are usually due to a lack of knowledge about diabetes in general, the prescribed treatment and implications of not adhering to the regimen.

Patient's knowledge of medication and condition

Many patients with diabetes will be prescribed drugs for other conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. Does the patient know what each medicine is prescribed for? Does the patient understand the relationship between food intake, exercise, insulin and blood glucose levels?

Dosage Regime

The patient may not be taking the medication as prescribed which means they may be under or over using their treatment. The patient may have problems with taking the medicine which may stop them taking each dose correctly.

Side effects

Patients may experience side effects when taking their medication, which may in turn mean they don't take the correct dose or even take the medication at all.

Compliance

Sometimes patients won't take their medication correctly and it's important to understand the reasons why. If their medication has been changed they may not fully understand how and when it should be taken. It could be because the patient feels well so they stopped taking their medication or that the patient doesn't understand the risks of complications if they stop taking their prescribed medication.

Formulation

Patients may have issues with swallowing their tablets or may have difficulty using blister packs. If the patient uses a blood glucose meter they need to ensure they are using this correctly each time.