Most diabetics surveyed who were fearful of the treatment cited injection-related factors as the basis for their worries.

According to the OPTIMISE (Obtaining Control in Diabetes) study of 1,500 type 2 diabetics in seven countries, 64 percent of those surveyed were not consistently achieving their optimal blood-sugar levels over a 10-year period.

The study revealed that 55 percent of those taking insulin for their condition fell short of their targets, while 69 percent of diabetics taking oral tablets to treat the disease failed to meet their goals.

Pills, Diet, Exercise

The polling further showed that, of type 2 diabetics controlling the condition with oral pills and/or diet and exercise, almost half said they would avoid insulin even if it was recommended by a physician.

Another 13 percent said they would be apprehensive about taking insulin. This hesitancy to take insulin was apparent in all of the countries in which the polling was conducted, regardless of whether syringes or the newer insulin-delivering pens were widely available, the researchers said.

Most diabetics surveyed who were fearful of the treatment cited injection-related factors as the basis for their worries.

Overall, the survey showed that the overwhelming majority of people with diabetes wish there [were] another way to take insulin, the researchers said.

'Very Worrying'

"These findings are really very worrying," said an official with the International Diabetes Foundation. "It is vital that we address why people are not getting to target [blood sugar] levels, in order to reduce the growing incidence of the devastating complications associated with diabetes."

Complications include blindness, kidney failure, amputations and heart attack.

The World Health Organization estimates that 366 million people will have the disease in the next 25 years.