The predictive role of HbA₁(c) and previous medications in initiation of insulin treatment.
BACKGROUND
Subjects (n = 46) with type 2 diabetes who responded inadequately to two and three oral medications (HbA₁(C) > 8.0%) were consecutively recruited for treatment with premixed insulin 30/70 two times a day in order to investigate whether previous oral therapies may predict insulin requirements.


METHODS
In this prospective study, men and women were eligible to participate if they were aged between 30 and 65 years, had had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus for at least 12 months, were insulin-naive and had been treated unsuccessfully with either two or three oral antidiabetic drugs for a minimum of three months. Clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed at one year follow-up.


RESULTS
The average required insulin doses were significantly higher in patients in whom previous triple oral medication had failed than in patients in whom two oral drugs had failed.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of the previous number of oral antidiabetic drugs and HbA₁(C) values may help us predict the insulin requirement when oral drugs have failed.
Nilüfer Toplum SağlIğI Merkezi, Department of Family Medicine, Turkey. drhakandemirci@hotmail.com
Hakan
H
Demirci
Yildirim
Y
Cinar
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human