Patients' Experiences with and Perceptions of Personalized Glycemic Targets: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Adults Living with Type 2 Diabetes  .

PURPOSE: Clinical practice guidelines for managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) recommend setting personalized glycemic targets for each patient based on factors such as diabetes duration, life expectancy, comorbidities, complications, and risk of hypoglycemia. This strategy aims to find a balance between the adverse effects of treatment linked to aggressive glycemic control, particularly hypoglycemia, and the potential long-term benefits, such as preventing coronary artery disease. However, there is limited research on patients' experiences with and perceptions of personalized glycemic targets. To address this gap, we sought to explore the experiences, perceptions, concerns, and preferences of individuals living with T2D regarding personalized glycemic targets. . PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used purposive sampling to recruit 25 adults who had been living with T2D for at least one year, from various healthcare settings, public libraries, and social media in Nova Scotia. From July to December 2024, we conducted semi-structured interviews (in-person or via Microsoft Teams), with durations ranging from 20 to 85 minutes. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach to uncover themes. RESULTS: The dataset revealed four main themes: 1) personalized blood sugar goals and treatment plans could be beneficial; 2) personalized information and/or scientific evidence is desirable; 3) access to healthcare and relationships with healthcare providers may affect the implementation of personalized care; and 4) treatment burden needs to be considered when setting blood sugar target plans. CONCLUSION: The analysis of findings showed that people with T2D viewed personalized glycemic targets favorably and emphasized the importance of adequate primary care supports to enable implementation.