[Insulin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes]

Insulin use in NIDDM is a frequent situation. Many acute clinical circumstances justify a transient insulin therapy including ketoacidosis decompensation or hyperosmolar state and severe intercurrent diseases. The problem is more complex when glycemic control is no longer obtained despite maximal doses of oral treatment. Type 2 diabetes is then defined as an insulin-requiring diabetes. There is actually no consensus, but lots of arguments advocate an intensive insulin therapy based on multiple daily injections in this clinical state. However, when patient's overweight is important or if the clinical context is unfavourable, conventional insulin therapy or combined treatment using bedtime insulin and daytime oral agents may be tried.