[The importance of concurrent therapy with insulin and sulfonylurea derivatives in type II diabetes]

The author presents an account of combined treatment with insulin and sulphonylurea derivatives in 46 diabetics type 2 for a period of three years. In all patients satisfactory metabolic compensation was achieved which persisted throughout the whole period at a level of HbA1c values of 8.0-8.5%. The author considers combined treatment indicated in secondary failure of oral antidiabetics with preserved C peptide secretion of 0.8-0.24 ng/ml. Combined treatment may be also a solution for some metabolically unbalanced diabetes type 2 with obesity and hyperinsulinaemia. Combined treatment is useful, does not burden the patient with large insulin doses and proves useful also in long-term satisfactory compensation as it reduces the risk of development of complications. Combined treatment fails in 9.6% of the patients, usually during the first year.