[Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes: a review of "when" over "how" up to "why"]

Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by its progressive character. An intensification of the therapy is necessary in most cases over the years and insulin is typically used as an add-on agent when oral antidiabetic regimes are judged to be no longer sufficient. However, insulin can also be used in the initial phase of the disease directly after diagnosis of diabetes. Intermittent worsening of glycemic control (e.g. due to infectious diseases or corticosteroids) may be additional indications for an insulin treatment at an earlier stage. Noticeably, insulin can often be stopped if the triggering event or treatment is reversible, thereby countering the widely spread fear of dependency on insulin. We recommend a rather cautious starting dose of insulin and individual adaptations thereafter. Well-informed patients can also perform such adaptations themselves.