Insulin—Five ‘M’s that Matter

Abstract

This editorial describes a simple and useful checklist that facilitates timely and appropriate insulin initiation and usage in type 2 diabetes. The ‘five Ms’ (5Ms) mnemonic list facilitates timely insulin use by breaking the process down into five ‘M’s: match, motivate, method, monitor, and modify. The 5Ms approach conveys the need to match the patient to the appropriate insulin regime, preparation, and delivery device; to motivate the patient to accept insulin through a process of informed, shared decision making; to ensure the correct method of insulin delivery by teaching injection technique; to monitor therapy by both biomedical (glycemic control, metabolic benefit) and patient reported outcomes (quality of life); and to modify therapeutic strategy, as and when needed. This concept can be used as a teaching tool, a clinical aid, and a practice audit.