Endocrine Abstracts

Several recent studies have shown that early intensive insulin therapy can improve β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. However, in clinical practice, insulin therapy has not been widely used in out-patients due to the fact that insulin therapy is perceived by the patients as the strongest and the last remedy and patients fear that, once on that therapy, they will have to remain on it for life. In fact, based on our clinical data, out-patients, who were newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes with HbA1c>9% or fasting plasma glucose >250 mg/dl and agreed to insulin therapy, could successfully shift to oral antidiabetic drugs within 6 months’ of insulin therapy. After the termination of insulin therapy, almost all of those patients can maintain optimal glycemic control (HbA1c <7.0) for many years with metformin only and some with combination use of metformin and sitagliptin.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.