Effect of Short-term Basal Insulin Initiation in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes on 1-year Glycemic Control

Despite the development of new drugs and therapeutic strategies for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), achieving long-term glycemic control remains a challenge. Results from the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) suggest that deterioration of glycemic control can be largely attributed to progressive β-cell loss, irrespective of the nature of pharmacological intervention. Therefore, treatments that can preserve or improve β-cell function are of great interest in the field of T2DM therapeutics. Some studies have shown that short-term intensive insulin therapy in patients newly diagnosed with T2DM produces beneficial effects on β-cell function, glycemic control, and rate of remission within 1 year. However, these studies applied complex regimes for insulin initiations that require frequent follow-up and are difficult to accept as initial therapy for T2DM.

Inclusion criteria

(must have)

• Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus on no glucose-lowering drugs and
• Either hemoglobin A1c equal to or more than 9% and/or random blood glucose equal to or more than 300 mg/dl.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus,
• Urine ketone dipstick + and above at baseline or anytime throughout the study.
• Pregnancy.
• Current or recent steroid use.
• History of coronary heart disease and heart failure.
• GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.