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Insulin therapy

Monika Lechleitner1, Friedrich Hoppichler

  • 1Landeskrankenhaus Hochzirl, Anna Dengel-Haus, Zirl, Austria. monika.lechleitner@tilak.at

Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|May 18, 2011
PubMed

Insulin therapy is a vital hormone replacement therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus. In type 2 diabetes, insulin is indicated if glycaemic goals are not reached by oral anti diabetics, as well as for metabolic detoriation, co-morbidities, surgery, pregnancy or contradictions against oral anti diabetics. Insulin preparations are characterized by the onset of the insulin action, the peak profile and duration of action. Available are short acting, long-acting and premixed preparations of human insulin, and insulin analogues. The gold standard of insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes is functional insulin therapy with a basal-bolus insulin regimen and control and adaption of the therapy by the patient. Various insulin regimens are available for treating patients with type 2 diabetes, including basal insulin supported oral therapy, supplementary mealtime injection of short acting insulin or insulin analogues, conventional insulin therapy or a basal bolus procedure. The various insulin preparations and regimens make it possible to adapt the therapy according to the patient's individual need.

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