[Effect of short-term intensive insulin therapy on daily insulin requirement in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes...

Prompt metabolic control improvement and daily insulin requirement assessment are indications for short-term intensive insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes, applied as multiple daily subcutaneous insulin injections (MDI), continuous subcutaneous (CSII) and intravenous insulin infusion (IVII). The study aimed at assessing the mean daily insulin dosage before beginning and after finishing three methods of short-term intensive insulin therapy, discontinued upon achievement of good glycemic control. 90 poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients, hospitalized in Diabetology Department of Medical University in Lódź, treated with insulin twice daily were enrolled into the study (age 52.8 +/- 6.7 years, mean daily insulin dosage 0.76 +/- 0.28 U.I./kg. of body weight, daily blood glucose profile values 271 +/- 76 mg/dl). The patients were randomized into three groups: the first group treated with MDI, the second with IVII and the third with CSII. Insulin dosage increased significantly after MDI therapy comparing with prehospital values (0.72 U.I./ kg-->0.84 U.I./kg, p = 0.007). No change in daily insulin requirement was noted in CSII and IVII groups. We concluded that CSII and IVII comparing with MDI are more efficient methods of achieving prompt glucose control improvement and they do not lead to the increase in the insulin dosage.