Professional Development

Overcoming Therapeutic Inertia

Therapeutic inertia is a lack of timely adjustment to therapy when a patient’s treatment goals are not met. In diabetes care, it means being slow to add or change the care plan if a patient’s A1C is too high.

Female physician talking to patient

Professional Development Overcoming Therapeutic Inertia

You know that early blood glucose management leads to better health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. But therapeutic inertia—or delays in advancing treatment—can keep people from reaching their glycemic targets. These resources can help you identify areas of potential inertia in your practice, build successful care plans with your patients, and remove key barriers to treatment. The care plan to address therapeutic inertia might include medications, health checks, diabetes education, nutrition therapy, exercise, and emotional support.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) created the Overcoming Therapeutic Inertia (OTI) initiative for health care professionals to:

  • Drive timely treatment optimization
  • Improve care plan adherence
  • Promote the adoption of evidence-based practices, strategies, programs, and tools
  • Address key barriers in diabetes care for more timely treatment modification and improved outcomes

Tools and Resources to Combat Therapeutic Inertia for Professionals

CLINICAL SUPPORT

EHR Practice Guide

Leverage electronic health records (EHRs) to identify and intervene in the care of adults with type 2 diabetes experiencing therapeutic inertia. 
CLINICAL SUPPORT

Critical Conversations Framework

Four critical conversations to quickly surface and address patient-level barriers that lead to therapeutic delays.
CLINICAL SUPPORT

Identifying and Engaging Patients

Actions health care professionals can take to identify and engage patients experiencing therapeutic inertia.

Professional Infographics

INFOGRAPHICS

Insulin Deintensification in Type 2 Diabetes 
Learn when and how.

INFOGRAPHICS

Insulin Intensification in Type 2 Diabetes  
Titrate Basal Insulin to Patient Specific Target 

INFOGRAPHICS

Insulin Initiation in Type 2 Diabetes 
When to initiate insulin.

Assessment Tools for Professionals

Social Needs Screening Tool

Diabetes Distress Online Assessment Tool

Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2)

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

Education and Webinars

Tools and Resources for Patients

FOR PATIENTS

Patient Self-Assessment

For type 2 diabetes patients to complete at check-in.
FOR PATIENTS

Diabetes Care and Management Plan Guide

Establish health goals and a medication and lifestyle plan with your patients.
FOR PATIENTS

Diabetes Care and Management Plan Summary

 A resource for patients to track goals and progress.

Patient Infographics

INFOGRAPHICS

Insulin Is an Important Medication for People with Type 2 Diabetes

INFOGRAPHICS

Simplifying Your Diabetes Treatment Plan