Intensification with prandial insulin

Many patients with type 2 diabetes will ultimately need insulin therapy to maintain their target for glycaemic control. This review considers how best to achieve the target for glycaemic control in primary care.

Literature review and workshop discussions among participants at the Insulin Intensification Summit.

Treatment aimed at reducing postprandial glucose is more effective in improving glycaemic control near target levels. Adding prandial doses of a short-acting insulin is superior to switching to a twice-daily premixed insulin. Short-acting analogue insulins offer advantages over animal insulins for intensification of basal insulin therapy, which can be achieved either by sequentially adding prandial doses or immediate introduction of three-times daily prandial dose. Each approach has benefits depending on the health care system and can be supported in primary care by a simple algorithm.

Intensification of basal insulin therapy is most effectively achieved by adding a prandial short-acting insulin analogue, using a simple clinical algorithm. The regimen should be selected according to local needs.