Early Intensive Insulin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetics

Research is being conducted on the benefits of early intensive insulin therapy for Type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes insulin-resistant. The pancreas must work harder to produce more insulin, resulting in damage and the inability to make enough. The disease worsens over time; most Type 2 diabetics eventually require insulin. Treatment usually includes diet, exercise and medication. While effective in controlling hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), it does not stop the progression. Early insulin therapy may help slow that progression, prevent hyperglycemia and minimize complications.

The Therapy

• Early intensive insulin therapy involves giving the patient doses of insulin, through an insulin pump or injection, when diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Insulin is usually not given to Type 2 diabetics until later stages of the disease when the pancreas is no longer producing enough. Insulin treatments in this therapy are given sooner to gain control over blood glucose levels in conjunction with the standard recommendations of diet and exercise. The therapy stops after the diabetic maintains blood glucose control for two weeks.

The Benefits

• Type 2 diabetics who received intensive insulin therapy were able to better maintain blood glucose control with diet and exercise. This is referred to as glycaemic remission. The ability to make insulin improves after the treatments. The therapy seems to prevent further breakdown of the pancreas and its beta cells. Beta cells produce insulin and are damaged in Type 2 diabetics from the overproduction of insulin. Treating patients sooner with insulin also prevents some of the complications that arise from diabetes. Complications, such as neuropathy and retinopathy, happen because of hyperglycemia. By gaining control of the levels and keeping them in normal ranges, the diabetic has a better chance of avoiding damage.

The Decision

• When diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, speak to an endocrinologist about receiving intensive insulin therapy. Many people go undiagnosed for years and live with high blood glucose without knowing they are diabetic. Insulin therapy may be especially helpful in those circumstances because damage to the pancreas and beta cells has likely already occurred. Preventing further damage and boosting the body's ability to produce insulin can put a diabetic into glycaemic remission. Ask the doctor about any new research being conducted on the effects of early insulin therapy. The therapy is gaining adherents, but treatment of diabetes is very patient-specific and individual needs must be considered and met.