INTRODUCTIONDiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of multiple etiologies, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia.1 It has emerged as a major health problem in India.2 It is fast gaining the status of potential epidemic in India with more than 62 million diabetic individuals currently diagnosed with the disease. This number is expected to increase to 79.4 million by 2030. 3 The crude prevalence rate in urban areas of India is apparently 9% and in rural ABSTRACT Background: To study the Pattern of drug prescribing, utilization, analyse effectives of different therapies and factors influencing medication failure and adherence to treatment among diabetics. Methods:The clinical study was conducted in JJM Medical College and Karuna Trust, Davangere, Karnataka. The patients with diabetes as diagnosed by consultant physician were observed for the pattern of blood glucose control. The fasting blood glucose of the patients were recorded at the end of 1st month, 6th month and 12 th month of their treatment period. The study period was from June 2012 till August 2014. The study was conducted after institutional ethical clearance and informed consent was taken from all the patients. The pattern of drugs prescribed for the patients were also analysed. The pattern of control among patients with co morbidities were also analysed using paired sample t test. Results:The results showed that the prescribed drugs were able to control the blood glucose levels of the patients. The percentage of patients with FBS in controlled, mild to moderate control and uncontrolled group were 21%, 33.3% and 45.5% in early treatment period and 36%, 40.9%, and 22.7% after one year treatment period (Significant p value). The pattern of drug utilization showed that the most commonly used drugs were the combination of pioglitazone+glimipride+metformin (19%), combination of glibenclamide+ metformin (18%), only insulin (9%), combination of glimipride+metformin (8%) and combination of gliclazide+metformin (5%). Conclusions:The results show that the intervention by the consultant physician was successful in controlling the blood sugar levels and the reasons for failure of treatment and adherence to treatment were helpful for further treatment of patients. Further such studies in a larger sample will help the consultants in their treatment methods.

Background: Chromium, an essential trace mineral plays an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and proteins. Chromium picolinate (Cr.Pic) is used in alternative medicine to treat chromium deficiency. Though Cr.Pic is increasingly used to treat diabetes and obesity, studies on its safety profile is limited.Methods: Acute toxicity study was conducted by oral administration of Cr.Pic (2000 mg/kg body weight). The animals were maintained another 14 days with once a day observation. For sub-chronic studies, test groups were treated with Cr.Pic 10 mg/kg/day for 90 days. Tests for hepatic and renal function were conducted. Effect of Cr.Pic on behavioural changes and motor co-ordination was done on every week. Histopathological studies were conducted on day 90 at the end of the experiment.Results: Acute toxicity study of Cr.Pic showed no signs of toxicity and mortality. Absence of any behavioural alteration or mortality during the period of 14 days indicates that Cr.Pic has no latent effect. Similar results were obtained with sub-chronic studies suggesting safety of Cr.Pic. Cr.Pic treated groups showed no changes in learning and motor co-ordination compared to the untreated group. No gross histopathological changes were seen in any group indicating safety of Cr.Pic.Conclusions: The present study conferred safety profile of Cr.Pic from normal results obtained in hepatic function, renal function, behavioural and histopathological studies, suggesting its safety.