Balancing Urgency Across Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia are all associated with increased risk of earlier mortality, yet we have been far more effective at creating urgency around blood sugar control than we have around managing blood pressure or blood lipids. This imbalance in perceived risk shows up in patient behavior, as evidence suggests people are more reluctant to discontinue diabetes medications, particularly insulin, than statins or antihypertensives, even though all three conditions materially affect long-term outcomes. In one study, patients taking insulin were significantly more concerned about missing future benefits compared with those taking antihypertensives or statins, highlighting how clinical messaging and perceived seriousness shape adherence and urgency across conditions (Stuijt et al., 2025).

Stuijt, P. J. C., Crutzen, S., Heringa, M., Hootsen, J. V., van Munster, B. C., Wildeboer, A. T., Taxis, K., & Denig, P. (2025). Patients’ attitudes towards deprescribing differ across specific cardiovascular and diabetes medication: A survey study assessing within-patient differences. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 137(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/bcpt.70140