[Insulin therapy in the type 2 obese diabetic patient. Supplementing the deficit]

The aim of insulin therapy in obese type 2 diabetics is to achieve a near-normal glycemic serum sugar metabolism while avoiding any further increase in weight and hypoglycemia. A further aim is to achieve maximum flexibility in the patient's lifestyle. For this purpose, in addition to bedtime administration of HPH insulin aimed at achieving a morning blood sugar level of < 100 mg/dl, regular insulin or a rapid-acting insulin analog should be administered at mealtimes. Administration of NPH insulin during the day is not necessary in most overweight type 2 diabetics--since the residual capacity for endogenous insulin secretion is adequate--and should be applied only when a requirement has been confirmed (basal rate test). Through the additive administration of oral (metformin, acarbose), metabolic control can be improved and the insulin dose simultaneously reduced, with associated positive effects on the patient's weight. With the aim of lowering the roughly three-fold increase in cardiovascular mortality rate in type 2 diabetics, optimal antihyperglycemic control should be accompanied by optimal management of blood lipids (LDL < 100 mg/dl, HDL > 45 mg/dl, triglycerides < 150 mg/dl), and blood pressure (RR < 135/80 mm Hg).