Comparative Effectiveness of Insulin Versus Oral Hypoglycemic Agents in Diabetic Patients With Acute Stroke: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of Treatment Outcomes and Influencing Factors.

Background and Aims: Diabetes is a disease that presents numerous challenges for both patients and physicians. Researching the factors associated with this condition is essential in today's medical studies. This study aims to determine the type of therapeutic regimen-either insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents-used in diabetic patients who have experienced an acute stroke. Methods: This descriptive-comparative study focused on diabetic patients who were referred to Valiasr Hospital in Zanjan in 2021 due to an acute stroke. Out of the initial statistical population, 248 individuals were evaluated using a demographic questionnaire and a checklist. After excluding incomplete questionnaires, a total of 176 participants were included in the analysis. The data were entered into SPSS v.26 for statistical analysis, which involved both descriptive methods (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and inferential methods (χ 2 test). Results: The findings of this study indicate that patients' conditions-assessed through MRS, MRS post-discharge, NIHSS, atrial fibrillation rhythm, sex, stroke location, and type of stroke-were not significantly associated with the treatment regimens, whether insulin or oral medications. However, as age increased, the amount of insulin used compared to oral medications showed a significant rise. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that diabetic patients who received insulin had a similar risk of acute stroke compared to those treated with oral medications. However, research shows that diet therapy plays a significant role in the management and progression of diabetes. Therefore, further studies in this area are needed to address the potential negative consequences of ischemia.