[Indications for a favourable effect of intensive insulin therapy for newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes]

In a recent Chinese trial, patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus received a short-term, intensive therapy with insulin during 2-4 weeks, or oral medication. Euglycaemia was achieved in nearly all patients. After one year, about half of the patients who had received insulin were in complete remission, as opposed to 27% of those on oral medication. The favourable pathophysiological mechanisms in the insulin group may be related to the biological effects of insulin, such as reducing the toxic influence of glucose on beta-cells and so-called beta-cell rest. These interesting findings need confirmation, notably in caucasoid populations, before guidelines for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes can be changed.