How Human Support Drives Medication Adherence in Diabetes Care
Managing type 2 diabetes is about more than prescriptions. It’s about daily decisions, lifestyle changes, and emotional resilience. For many newly diagnosed patients, the transition can feel overwhelming: changing what they eat, exercising more, and injecting a medication, sometimes for the very first time. Not surprisingly, people with diabetes are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression. Feelings of shock, anger, or numbness often follow a diagnosis.
This emotional weight directly affects medication adherence in diabetes, making it harder for patients to stay on track with their prescribed therapies. Addressing these barriers requires more than information. It requires empathy, encouragement, and a human connection.
A Human Solution: The GoodStart Program
To address these challenges, a well-known injectable diabetes brand partnered with Pleio to launch the GoodStart Program. The program was designed to surround new-to-therapy patients with empathy and encouragement during their critical first 100 days of treatment. Pleio’s GoodStart Program connected patients with trained GoodStarters through our pharmacy network with scripted calls that blend education with compassionate support. These conversations were reinforced through digital resources such as GoodStart Minutes, giving patients ongoing guidance and motivation between calls. Together, these touchpoints created a bridge of trust and confidence, helping patients stay engaged with their therapy at a moment when many might otherwise slip away.
The Impact on Diabetes Medication Adherence
The results highlight the power of human connection in supporting patients with diabetes:
- 167,000+ patients supported through the program
- 44.3% engagement rate among eligible patients
- 12+ minutes average talk time—time spent listening, guiding, and encouraging
- 51% opt-in for ongoing digital communication
- Significant improvement in persistence: 20% better adherence by the first refill and 45% by the third refill
- Sustained medication use: +1.36 prescription lift at 360 days, with patients filling on average four days earlier
These numbers translate into patients feeling more confident, better supported, and more consistent with their therapy.
If you’re a pharma brand looking to improve adherence and build lasting patient relationships, explore how Pleio’s programs can support your patients from day one. Connect with us today to learn more.
