Irrational Choices by Patients with Diabetic Complications

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease in which high blood glucose over long periods leads to diabetic complications including retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney disease, and increased risk for cardiovascular events. Despite the availability of scientifically proven medical treatments, significant number patients with diabetes do not attain optimal glycemic control due failure self-management nonadherence medication. These behaviors appear irrational terms conventional economic theory. We applied theory behavioral economics, new concept clarifying human behaviors, investigating preferences diabetes. found specific features responses complications. Many these had low socioeconomic status, were reluctant participate survey, difficulty making decisions explicitly. Their choices under uncertainty often violated two axioms Expected Utility Theory (completeness transitivity) therefore considered irrational, meaning that their difficult understand differed from those would be chosen by majority people. Health professionals should aware propensity such make decisions, might an important factor progression