Indian insulin guidelines: a year later and the road ahead

There are various regimens available for prescribing insulin, which include but are not limited to basal bolus, split mixed, premix, and prandial therapy. Basal bolus, although termed ideal for people with type 1 diabetes, is often perceived as complex for management of T2DM. In order to provide primary care physicians with a simple algorithm for initiation and titration of insulin therapy, the Indian National Consensus Group (INCG), formulated a guideline on premixed insulin therapy, which was published in 2009. They recommended premixed insulin as simple, safe, easy to start and stay, and a more physiological option for treating type 2 diabetes. The Indian insulin guideline has evoked a good deal of participation and has been discussed at various forums including national conferences, continuing medical education programs, and institutional seminars. The initial feedback on the utility of the guideline from the medical fraternity has been very encouraging.