title: Insulin analogues: how observational studies provide key insights into management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this commentary was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the use of synthetic insulin analogues in the 'real-world' clinic setting for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant publications were searched on PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials Google Scholar, NLM Gateway, Science Direct, Web of Science and OVID for the period of January 2007 to June 2010. Articles were included if they (a) provided specific study results on the use of insulin analogues in T2DM and (b) gave sufficiently clear methodology details to establish treatment strategies, diagnosis and diagnostic criteria using an observational study (OS) design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty one articles specifically addressing both type 2 diabetes management and the use of synthetic insulin analogues were identified. Results from recently published OS in patients with T2DM have shown, in the patient populations tested, the effective initiation, optimization and switch to use of insulin analogues in routine clinical settings (day-to-day common practice), with a good safety profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OS can provide clinicians with additional insights into the management of T2DM patients in their practices. However, the selection and initiation of insulin analogue regimens should be tailored to the individual patient and be one that the physician is comfortable using.
authors: EHM Clinic, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. rjligthe@xs4all.nl
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Ligthelm
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D039781:PubMed
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin