Update on Insulin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 97; no. 5; pp. 1405 - 1413
• Main Authors: Donner, Thomas, Muñoz, Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.05.2012; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Series: Update
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Insulin - analogs & derivatives; Insulin - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Obesity; Pancreatic hormone; Treatment; Nutrition; Nutrition disorder; Metabolic diseases; Insulin; Endocrinology; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-2202

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion at diagnosis and by progressive β-cell dysfunction over time. Insulin therapy is thus frequently required during the course of the disease to maintain glycemic control and prevent diabetes complications. Insulin should be initiated when alternative antihyperglycemic agents have failed or when symptomatic or marked hyperglycemia is present. Recent studies demonstrate that the addition of basal, prandial, basal/bolus, or premixed insulins to existing antihyperglycemic regimens effectively lowers glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). The long-acting insulin analogs cause less nocturnal hypoglycemia than bedtime NPH, with comparable HbA1c reductions. Insulin detemir confers a weight advantage over glargine or NPH. Rapid-acting insulin analogs control postprandial hyperglycemia more effectively than regular insulin and modestly lower HbA1c. For selected patients with severe insulin resistance, U-500 is a less expensive and potentially more effective alternative to U-100 insulin. Adverse effects of insulin, including weight gain and hypoglycemia, can be minimized by initial use of basal insulins in combination with metformin, incretin mimetics, or dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV inhibitors. Although in vitro studies suggest that hyperinsulinemia may promote tumorigenesis, no currently available insulin has been shown to increase cancer rates. Targeting near-normal glucose levels in insulin-treated patients should be reserved for those of younger age with a longer life expectancy, a shorter duration of diabetes, and little or no end-organ complications. A higher HbA1c target of 7–8% is more appropriate for patients less likely to benefit from intensive control and in those at high risk for severe hypoglycemia.