Khunti K, Chen H, Cid-Ruzafa J, et al. - Researchers characterized the level of glycaemic control in participants in DISCOVER at the initiation of second-line glucose-lowering therapy, as well as assessed factors correlated with poor glycaemic control. DISCOVER includes two comparable prospective observational studies of 15,992 individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) starting second-line glucose-lowering therapy in 38 countries across six regions (Africa, Americas, South-East Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe and Western Pacific). The poor levels of glycaemic control at the start of second-line therapy indicate that many T2D patients were delayed in intensifying glucose-lowering treatment. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels are not routinely measured in some countries. Such results illustrate the urgent need for interventions to improve monitoring and management of glycaemic control worldwide, especially in countries with lower-middle and upper-middle incomes. Factors linked to HbA1c > 8.0% at second-line therapy initiation included a low level of education, low country income, and longer time after T2D diagnosis.