Initiation Of Insulin Therapy Research Articles

Smart Algorithms for Efficient Insulin Therapy Initiation in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: An in Silico Study.

Insulin-naive subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) start basal insulin titration from a low initial insulin dose (IID), which is adjusted weekly or twice per week based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) measurement as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The procedure to reach the optimal insulin dose (OID) is time-consuming, especially in subjects with high insulin needs (HIN). The aim of this study is to provide a fast and effective, but still safe, insulin titration algorithm in insulin-naive T2D subjects with HIN. To do that, we in silico cloned 300 subjects, matching a real population of insulin-naive T2D and used a logistic regression model to classify them as subjects with HIN or subjects with low insulin needs (LIN). Then, we applied to the subjects with HIN both a more aggressive insulin dose initiation (SMART-IID) and two newly developed titration algorithms (continuous glucose monitoring [CGM]-BASED and SMART-CGM-BASED) in which CGM was used to guide the decision-making process. The new titration algorithm applied to HIN-classified individuals guaranteed a faster reaching of OID, with significant improvements in time in range (TIR) and reduction in time above range (TAR) in the first months of the trial, without any clinically significant increase in the risk of hypoglycemia. Smart basal insulin titration algorithms enable insulin-naive T2D individuals to achieve OID and improve their glycemic control faster than standard guidelines, without jeopardizing patient safety.

Hypoglycemia during hyperosmolar hyperglycemic crises is associated with long-term mortality

BackgroundPrevious research has indicated that hypoglycemia during hospitalization is a predictor of unfavorable outcomes in patients with diabetes. However, no studies have examined the long-term impact of hypoglycemia in adults admitted for hyperglycemic crises. The study was aimed to investigate the long-term implications of hypoglycemia during hyperosmolar hyperglycemic crises, particularly in terms of all-cause mortality.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 170 patients (82 men [48.2%], median age 72 years) admitted to a university hospital for hyperosmolar hyperglycemic crises, including pure hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states and hyperosmolar diabetic ketoacidoses. We separately investigated the prognostic significance of hypoglycemia on mortality during the initial intravenous insulin therapy phase and during the later subcutaneous insulin therapy phase, both during hospitalization and in the long term (median follow-up, 652 days; range 2–3460 days).ResultsBoth hypoglycemia during the initial intravenous insulin therapy phase (observed in 26.5% of patients) and hypoglycemia during the later subcutaneous insulin therapy phase (observed in 52.7% of patients) were associated with long-term mortality. After adjusting for potential confounders, hypoglycemia during the initial intravenous insulin therapy phase remained associated with mortality (hazard ratio 2.10, 95% CI 1.27–3.46, p = 0.004).ConclusionsHypoglycemia during hyperosmolar hyperglycemic crises is a marker of long-term mortality, especially when it occurs during the initial intravenous insulin therapy phase.

Initiating insulin therapy in adults with type 2 diabetes: a practical guide

Initiating insulin therapy in adults with type 2 diabetes: a practical guide

Insulinothérapie fonctionnelle chez les diabétiques de type 1: Impact à court terme sur le poids et les apports nutritionnels

Flexible insulin therapy is currently considered the gold standard therapy of type 1 diabetes. We aimed to study the evolution of glycemic control, weight and nutritional intake of a group of patients with type 1 diabetes, three months after the initiation of functional insulin therapy (FIT). This was a prospective longitudinal study having included 30 type 1 diabetic patients hospitalized for education to FIT. Each patient underwent an assessment of glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and number of hypoglycemia), weight and nutritional intake before FIT and 3 months after the initiation of this educative approach. The mean age of patients was 21,8 ± 7,9 years and the sex ratio was 0,5. The mean duration of diabetes was 7,2 ± 6 years. Three months after initiation of FIT, we observed a significant lowering of A1C, which went from 9,2 ± 1,6% to 8,3 ± 1,4% (p<0,001) of the number of minor hypoglycemia (p=0,001) and that of severe hypoglycemia (p= 0,021). the average weight went from 64,6 ± 13,1 kg to 65,5 ± 13,5 kg (p = 0,040) with a significant increase in BMI (p = 0,041). Weight gain was observed in 67% of patients. This weight gain contrasted with a significant decrease in caloric (p = 0,040) and in carbohydrates intakes (p = 0,027). Weight gain, associated with better glycemic control, should encourage the healthcare team to strengthen therapeutic education of patients undergoing FIT in order to limit weight gain.

Real-World Outcomes of Individualized Targeted Therapy with Insulin Glargine 300Units/mL in Insulin-Naïve Korean People with Type2 Diabetes: TOBE Study.

The TOujeo BEyond glucose control (TOBE) study evaluated clinical outcomes with insulin glargine 300units/mL (Gla-300) in insulin-naïve Korean people with type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a real-world setting. This 24-week, prospective, non-interventional, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, observational study included adults aged ≥ 20years with T2DM suboptimally controlled with oral hypoglycemic agents and/or glucagon-like peptide1 receptor agonists who require basal insulin. Eligible participants were assigned to either general target glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c < 7%) or individualized target groups as per physician's discretion considering guidelines and participants' characteristics. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants achieving the HbA1c target (individualized or general) at 24weeks. Among 369 participants, 19.5% (72/369) of participants achieved the HbA1c target at week24; 37.5% (33/88) in the individualized and 13.9% (39/281) in the general target group. In both target groups, similar reductions in fasting plasma glucose and body weight were observed, with low incidence of hypoglycemia, and T2DM duration was significantly shorter in participants who did versus those who did not achieve the target HbA1c (individualized target group: 9.6 ± 8.0 versus 13.1 ± 8.4years, P = 0.0454; general target group: 10.2 ± 8.6 versus 12.8 ± 7.4years, P = 0.0378). This study showed that initiation of insulin therapy with Gla-300 in people with T2DM using an individualized approach is more effective in achieving an HbA1c target. Moreover, earlier initiation of insulin therapy in people with suboptimally controlled T2DM may increase the success rate of glycemic control. A graphical abstract is available with this article.

Current barriers to initiating insulin therapy in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is an essential drug in the treatment of diabetes, often necessary for managing hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It should be considered in cases of severe hyperglycemia requiring hospitalization, after the failure of other treatments, in advanced chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, post-transplant diabetes, or during pregnancy. Moreover, in specific patient subgroups, early initiation of insulin is crucial for hyperglycemia control and prevention of chronic complications. Clinical guidelines recommend initiating insulin when other treatments fail, although there are barriers that may delay its initiation. The timing of initiation depends on individual patient characteristics. Typically, insulinization starts by adding basal insulin to the patient's existing treatment and, if necessary, progresses by gradually introducing prandial insulin. Several barriers have been identified that hinder the initiation of insulin, including fear of hypoglycemia, lack of adherence, the need for glucose monitoring, the injection method of insulin administration, social rejection associated with the stigma of injections, weight gain, a sense of therapeutic failure at initiation, lack of experience among some healthcare professionals, and the delayed and reactive positioning of insulin in recent clinical guidelines. These barriers contribute, among other factors, to therapeutic inertia in initiating and intensifying insulin treatment and to patients' non-adherence. In this context, the development of once-weekly insulin formulations could improve initial acceptance, adherence, treatment satisfaction, and consequently, the quality of life for patients. Currently, two once-weekly basal insulins, insulin icodec and basal insulin BIF, which are in different stages of clinical development, may help. Their longer half-life translates to lower variability and reduced risk of hypoglycemia. This review addresses the need for insulin in T2DM, its positioning in clinical guidelines under specific circumstances, the current barriers to initiating and intensifying insulin treatment, and the potential role of once-weekly insulin formulations as a potential solution to facilitate timely initiation of insulinization, which would reduce therapeutic inertia and achieve better early control in people with T2DM.

Early onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: an update.

The incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in young individuals (aged <40 years) have significantly increased in recent years, approximating two to threefold increase in the respective rates. Numerous risk factors including severe obesity, family history, ethnicity, maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes, and female sex contribute to a younger age of onset. In terms of pathogenesis, impaired insulin secretion is the key operating mechanism, alongside with ectopic adiposity-related insulin resistance. T2DM diagnosis in a young adult requires the exclusion of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). The establishment of such diagnosis is critical for prognosis, because early-onset T2DM is associated with rapid deterioration in pancreatic β-cell secretory function leading to earlier initiation of insulin therapy. Furthermore, mortality and lifetime risk of developing complications, especially microvascular, is increased in these patients compared to both later-onset T2DM and T1DM patients; also, the latter are often developed earlier in the course of disease. The management of early-onset T2DM follows the same guidelines as in later-onset T2DM; yet patients aged 18-39 years are underrepresented in the big clinical trials on which the development of guidelines is based. Finally, young people with T2DM face significant challenges associated with social determinants, which compromise their adherence to therapy and induce diabetes distress. Future research focusing on the pathogenesis of β-cell decline and complications, as well as on specific treatment shall lead to better understanding and management of early-onset T2DM.

A Practical Approach to the Initiation, Titration and Intensification of Insulin Therapy in Adults with Diabetes in the Indian Context: Recommendations by Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Consensus Group

A Practical Approach to the Initiation, Titration and Intensification of Insulin Therapy in Adults with Diabetes in the Indian Context: Recommendations by Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Consensus Group

A Hybrid Model of In-Person and Telemedicine Diabetes Education and Care for Management of Patients with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Findings and Implications from a Multicenter Prospective Study.

Patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) require close follow-up, support, and education to achieve glycemic control, especially during the initiation or intensification of insulin therapy and self-care management. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the impact of implementing a hybrid model of in-person and telemedicine care and education on glycemic control for patients with uncontrolled T2DM (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥9%) during the coronavirus disease pandemic. This prospective multicenter-cohort pre-/post-intervention study was conducted on patients with uncontrolled T2DM. This study included three chronic illness centers affiliated with the Family and Community Medicine Department at Prince Sultan Military Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A hybrid model of in-person (onsite) and telemedicine care and education was developed. This involved implementing initial in-person care at the physicians' clinic and initial in-person education at the diabetes education clinic, followed by telemedicine services of tele-follow-ups, support, and education for an average 4-month follow-up period. Of the enrolled 181 patients, more than half of the participants were women (n = 103, 56.9%). The mean age of participants (standard deviation) was 58.64 ± 11.23 years and the mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 13.80 ± 8.55 years. The majority of the patients (n = 144; 79.6%) were on insulin therapy. Overall, in all three centers, the hybrid model had significantly reduced HbA1c from 10.47 ± 1.23% to 7.87 ± 1.59% (mean difference of reduction 2.59% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.34-2.85%], p < 0.001). At the level of each center, HbA1c was reduced significantly with mean differences of 3.17% (95% CI = 2.81-3.53%), 2.49% (95% CI = 1.92-3.06%), and 2.16% (95% CI = 1.76-2.57%) at centers A, B, and C, respectively (all p < 0.001). The findings showed that the hybrid model of in-person and telemedicine care and education effectively managed uncontrolled T2DM. Consequently, the role of telemedicine in diabetes management could be further expanded as part of routine diabetes care in primary settings to achieve better glycemic control and minimize nonessential in-person visits when appropriate.

The Barriers to Insulin Therapy Initiation in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Study of General Practitioner Perceptions in Huinan Community in South Shanghai.

Despite the demonstrated benefits of insulin therapy, many general practitioners (GPs) are hesitant to administer it due to challenges such as a lack of knowledge, time constraints, and patient reluctance. The barriers that prevent a GP from initiating insulin therapy may vary in comparison to those encountered by a diabetic patient; this aspect of clinical research in the South Shanghai metropolitan area has received limited attention so far. This is a 6-months of interventional analytic cohort study. The prime aim is to investigate the barriers general practitioners (GPs) face when initiating insulin therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). As part of a training program, all 189 registered GPs in Nanhui Health Service Center in Shanghai were given a structured online-multi-choice questionnaire before and after a six-month interval, during which the GPs received sessions of training on insulin therapy either on theoretic classes or clinical practices. Before and after training, via the methods of multiple-response analyses, the results showed that social, GP's, and patient barriers to initiating insulin therapy were comparable. However, through the crosstabs chi-square test, we found significant changes in the basal insulin initiation following the prescription of the senior endocrinologists, the titration of insulin, and the need for training (p<0.05). The Spearman analyses discovered significant changes associated with the cause of initial insulin refusal and the factors influencing insulin administration. Finally, the binary logistic regression analysis revealed that distinct causes such as social factors, insurance, GP experience, insulin dosage calculation, follow-up, and patients' feelings are related to insulin treatment application before and after training. According to this study, training increased general practitioners' confidence in initiating insulin administration, especially basal insulin. General practitioners require additional education on insulin therapy, with a potential need for increased face-to-face training for insulin initiation.

Using Motivational Interviewing to Overcome Psychological Insulin Resistance

Psychological insulin resistance can delay insulin therapy when initiating insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The role of diabetes educator is important in reducing patients’ psychological insulin resistance through various approach. Motivational interviewing not only promotes diabetes selfmanagement, but also can help to overcome psychological insulin resistance. Diabetes educators can help smooth the transition to insulin in diabetic patients using motivational interviewing. In this article, I introduce basic counseling skills of motivational interviewing addressing psychological insulin resistance.

The association between antidepressant treatment and rates of insulin initiation in comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes: A UK electronic health record nested case-control study

AimsTo investigate the association between antidepressant prescribing and the rate of insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes. MethodsUsing UK primary care records we completed a nested-case control study in a individuals with comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes. Cases were defined as individuals initiating insulin, controls were individuals remaining on oral antidiabetic medication. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate incident rate ratios (IRR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between antidepressant prescribing and initiating insulin. We adjusted for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, health service and previous medication use. ResultsWe included 11,862 cases who initiated insulin, and 43,452 controls. Increased rates of insulin initiation were associated with any antidepressant prescription (IRR 3.78, 95% CI 3.53–4.04), longer (24+ months) durations of antidepressant treatment (IRR 5.61, 95% CI 5.23–6.03), and higher numbers (3+) of different antidepressant agents prescribed (IRR 5.72, 95% CI 5.25–6.24). There was no difference between recent and non-recent antidepressant prescriptions, or between different antidepressant agents. ConclusionsAntidepressant prescribing was highly associated with the initiation of insulin therapy. However, this may not indicate a direct causal effect of the antidepressant medication itself, and may be a marker of more severe depression influencing diabetic control.

Glycated haemoglobin, HOMA2-B, C-peptide to glucose ratio and type 2 diabetes clusters as predictors for therapy failure in individuals with type 2 diabetes without insulin therapy: A registry analysis.

Some people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and declining β-cell function do require insulin over time. Various laboratory parameters, indices of glucose metabolism or phenotypes of T2D (clusters) have been suggested, which might predict future therapy failure (TF), indicating the need for insulin therapy initiation. This analysis evaluated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)2-B, C-peptide to glucose ratio (CGR) and diabetes clusters as predictive parameters for the occurrence of glycaemic TF in individuals diagnosed with T2D without previous insulin therapy. In total, 159 individuals with T2D [41% female, median age 50 (IQR: 53-69) years, diabetes duration 9 (5-15) years], without insulin therapy were prospectively evaluated for the occurrence of a composite primary endpoint, including HbA1c increasing or remaining >8.0% (64 mmol/mol) 3 months after baseline on non-insulin glucose-lowering agents, insulin initiation or hospital admissions because of acute hyperglycaemic events. Diabetes clusters were formed according to previously described characteristics. Only severe autoimmune diabetes clusters were excluded because of a small amount of glutamate decarboxylase antibody-positive participants. The other clusters were distributed as mild age-related diabetes 33%; severe insulin-deficient diabetes 31%; mild obesity-related diabetes 20%; and severe insulin-resistant diabetes 15%. During a median observation of 57 months, higher tertiles of HbA1c at baseline, HOMA2-B, as well as a lower CGR were significantly predictive for the occurrence of the primary endpoint. The probability of meeting the primary endpoint was the highest for mild obesity-related diabetes [hazard ratio 3.28 (95% confidence interval 1.75-6.2)], followed by severe insulin-deficient diabetes [hazard ratio 2.03 (95% confidence interval 1.1-3.7)], mild age-related diabetes and the lowest for severe insulin-resistant diabetes. The best performance to predict TF with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 was HbA1c at baseline, followed by HOMA2-B (AUC 0.69) and CGR (AUC 0.64). HbA1c, indices of insulin secretion capacity (HOMA2-B and CGR) and T2D clusters might be applicable tools to guide practitioners in the decision of whether insulin is required in people already diagnosed with T2D. These findings need to be validated in prospective studies.

Pediatric Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome: A Comprehensive Approach to Diagnosis, Management, and Complications Utilizing Novel Summarizing Acronyms.

This paper focuses on hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS), a unique hyperglycemic state requiring divergent diagnosis and treatment approaches from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) despite some shared characteristics. We introduce the mnemonic DI-FF-ER-EN-CE-S to encapsulate unique HHS management and complications. 'DI' emphasizes the need to delay and decrease initial insulin therapy until serum glucose decline is managed by fluid resuscitation alone. 'FF' stresses the importance of double fluid replacement compared to DKA due to severe dehydration and 'ER' electrolyte replacement due to profound losses and imbalances. 'EN' denotes the potential for encephalopathy and the requirement for a controlled serum osmolality reduction. 'CE' indicates cerebral edema, a rare complication in HHS. 'S' signifies systemic multiorgan failure. We categorize the associated risks into three mnemonic groups: the 3Rs (renal failure, respiratory distress, rhabdomyolysis), the 3Hs (heart failure, hypercoagulation, hyperthermia), and AP (arrhythmias, pancreatitis) to facilitate awareness and screening of HHS.

THU357 A Case Of Recurrent Insulin-induced Edema In A Pediatric Adolescent Patient

Abstract Disclosure: G.J. Mora Calderon: None. R.L. Aguirre: None. D. Preston: None. Introduction: Insulin induced edema is a very rare complication seen after initiation of insulin therapy or after escalation of previous insulin regimen in patients with diabetes. The exact incidence of this condition is unknown. Insulin induced edema seems to have a female predominance and is associated primarily with patients who are underweight. The severity of insulin induced edema can range from mild localized peripheral edema to more severe and generalized complications, including cardiac failure and serosal effusions. There is a higher risk for severe complications in older patients with pre-existing cardiac, hepatic, or renal conditions. Usually, the course is benign and self-resolved without any intervention. Severe and prolonged cases have been reported to need adjuvant therapy (e.g diuretics or sympathomimetic agents) or sodium-restricted dietary regimens. Increasing blood glucose target with a decreased insulin regimen has been proposed as a possible option to prevent insulin induced edema. We present a 14 year-old-male patient with history of poor controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus and recurrent insulin-induced edema after strengthening of his insulin therapy. Case Presentation: A 14-year-old male with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency with pitting edema of his face and hands that started a week after intensification of his insulin regimen. His weight increased from 73 kg to 84 kg in about 10 days. His vital signs at presentation were stable and besides the pitting edema, the rest of the physical examination was unremarkable. His mother reported a previous episode of edema that occurred approximately a year before this presentation and about a month after he was first diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. His most recent HbA1c was 14.4%. Patient was admitted for evaluation. Electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiogram, chest x-ray, and multiple laboratories (including a comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, B-type natriuretic peptide, urine microalbumin, and thyroid function test ) came back all normal. The edema slowly improved and was eventually discharged. No adjuvant therapy was needed during his hospitalization. Conclusion: The diagnosis of insulin induced edema is primarily based on the exclusion of other etiologies. Most cases reported only one episode after initiation of insulin therapy or after escalation of previous insulin regimen, but it can happen multiple times as noted in our patient. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

THU358 A Case Of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes In Adults (LADA) Managed By Lifestyle And Dietary Intervention Alone

Abstract Disclosure: M. Ahmad: None. U. Tarabichi: None. R. Patel: None. B. Arshad: None. A.P. Calimag: None. Introduction: LADA typically presents like Type 2 Diabetes at the time of diagnosis but it slowly progresses to insulin dependence for management. LADA is an autoimmune disease and it is distinguished from Type 2 diabetes by the presence of autoantibody. We present you an interesting case in which patient was diagnosed with LADA and was started on treatment with insulin regimen but over the time patient managed to stay off of insulin and managing his condition exclusively with a high protein ketogenic diet. Case Description: A 57 year old male with past medical history of Hyperlipidemia, gastroparesis, Hypertension and Diabetes. Patient initially diagnosed with diabetes in 2016 with A1C of 11% and was started on Metformin. In 2017, patient was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), had low c peptide on admission. At discharge, patient was started on basal bolus regimen. Patient had a follow up with Endocrinology and autoimmune labs. These were positive for GAD antibody, islet cell antibody and low c-peptide. With subsequent follow ups, lantus dose was decreased and Humalog with meals was discontinued. On further questioning patient reported that he started ketogenic diet along with intermittent fasting in March 2020. With his change of diet, he lost around 100 pounds over 1 year period and his insulin requirements continued to decrease throughout his journey. With time, patient desired to be off of insulin but Endocrinology didn’t recommend given his increased risk of DKA. Patient eventually stopped taking all of his insulin and it was recommended that he continues to use continuous glucose monitoring along with keto testing strips at home to monitor for DKA. Patient has sustained his diet change until this date and he continues to be on ketogenic diet with intermittent fasting 20 hours a day with 4-hour window of eating. He remains off insulin for 2 years, A1C continues to trend down, and with no evidence of DKA. Most recent labs; A1C is 5.5, positive for insulinoma associated antibody 2, negative for Zinc transporter antibody and insulin antibody. Conclusion: There is very little evidence available in the literature that supports treatment of LADA with dietary intervention alone. In our case, there are several fasting cpeptide levels that are less than 1.0, which typically would indicate initiation of insulin therapy. Our patient has managed to control hyperglycemia with dietary changes alone and has not been in diabetic ketoacidosis for greater than 2 years. It is rare for someone to maintain such a restrictive diet which includes 100g of protein, 100g fat and 5g of carbohydrates per day. This case highlights the ability of someone to maintain euglycemia with LADA without need for insulin therapy for greater than 2 years. Most diet studies are not followed that Longterm. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Evolution of Guideline Recommendations on Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Over the Last Two Decades: A Narrative Review.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been increasing worldwide. As the therapeutic options for type 2 diabetes mellitus have evolved over the last 2 decades, national and global guidelines related to type 2 diabetes mellitus pharmacotherapy issued by various organizations have tended to vary in their recommendations. This narrative review aimed to analyze the key recommendations by major global and national guidelines on the initiation of insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus over the last 20 years. Strategies for insulin therapy for titration and intensification were also assessed. All guidelines recommend initiation of insulin (basal/ premixed/other formulations) when glycemic targets are not achieved despite lifestyle measures and oral antidiabetic drugs. In the recent decade, early initiation of insulin has been recommended when the glycated hemoglobin levels are >10% or blood glucose levels are ≥300 mg/dL (16.7 mmol/L). Initiation is recommended at a dose of 10 units or 0.1-0.2 U/kg. Titration is advised to achieve the optimal dosage, while intensification is recommended when glycemic targets are not achieved despite titrating to an acceptable level. Glucose monitoring at periodic intervals is recommended for adequate glycemic control. The guidelines further suggest that the choice of insulin should be individualized, considering the clinical status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The physicians as well as patients should be a part of the decisions made regarding the therapeutic choice of regimen, preparation, and delivery device.

Which people with diabetes are treated with a disposable, half-unit insulin pen? A real-world, retrospective, database study in Spain.

Insulin lispro 100 units/mL Jr KwikPen is the first prefilled, disposable, half-unit insulin pen that delivers 0.5-30 units in increments of 0.5 units for the treatment of patients with diabetes. This study describes the profile of patients in Spain who initiated insulin therapy with Jr KwikPen in a real-world setting. This retrospective, observational study based on IQVIA's electronic medical records database included patients with Type 1 (T1D) or Type 2 (T2D) diabetes who initiated therapy with Jr KwikPen between May 2018 and December 2020. Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics at treatment initiation were analysed descriptively. A total of 416 patients were included. The main characteristics of the T1D/T2D groups (N = 326/90), respectively were as follows: female sex, 61.7%/65.6%; mean age (standard deviation [SD]), 32.5 (20.7)/55.5 (16.6) years; body mass index, 20.9 (4.2)/25.2 (4.6) kg/m2 (N = 239/77); HbA1c, 7.8 (1.7)%/8.0 (1.5)% (N = 141/64); and presence of diabetes-associated comorbidities, 27.9%/64.4%. Only 32.8% of patients with T1D were < 18 years old. Among Jr KwikPen users, 12.3% (T1D/T2D, 7.7%/28.9%) were ≥ 65 years old, 17.1% patients were newly diagnosed, and 3.8% were pregnant women. The mean (SD) total insulin dose pre-index for T1D/T2D was 43.1 (23.6) and 40.7 (21.6) UI/day, respectively. The mean (SD) insulin dose at the start of Jr KwikPen use was 26.63 (16.56) and 22.58 (13.59) UI/day for T1D/T2D, respectively. Jr KwikPen was first prescribed mainly by endocrinologists (58.7%) or paediatricians (22.6%). The profile of patients who initiated therapy with Jr KwikPen in routine practice was broad with many patients being adults. Most of these patients had T1D, inadequate glycemic control, and multiple associated comorbidities. These results suggest that Jr KwikPen is prescribed in patients who may benefit from finer insulin dose adjustments, namely children, adolescents, adults, older individuals, or pregnant women with T1D or T2D.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): A Severe Diabetes Mellitus Disorder

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate evaluation and treatment. It remains a significant complication of diabetes and is increasing alarmingly worldwide. It is an endocrine complication that involves hyperglycemia, anion gap metabolic acidosis, and ketosis. It is characterized by hyperglycaemia with glucose is greater than 11 mmol/l (200 mg/dl), capillary/venous pH is less than 7.3, bicarbonate (HCO3–) is less than 15 mEq/l, serum anion gap is greater than 16 mmol/l, moderate to severe dehydration is seen and creatinine ratio is increased, and ketones (ketonemia and ketonuria ≥3 mmol/l) are present. It occurs in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D); and early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment are necessary for the welfare of the patients. Treatment of DKA involves volume expansion, insulin replacement, and prevention of hypokalemia. DKA can be prevented through the earlier recognition and initiation of insulin therapy. An attempt has been taken here to discuss the aspects of DKA in some detail.

Impact of Initiation of Insulin Therapy on Serum Prolactin and Cortisol Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Male Patients

Background Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a common metabolic disease characterized by a decline in insulin sensitivity and relative insulin insufficiency-induced hyperglycemia. In type 2 diabetic patients who have failed to achieve target glycemic control goals on oral anti-diabetic drug therapy, Initiating insulin therapy significantly improved overall glycemic control. Objective To assess Impact of Initiation of Insulin Therapy on Serum Prolactin and Cortisol levels In Type 2 Diabetic Male Patients. Subjects and Methods It was conducted on thirty (30) male patients who were diagnosed to have type 2 diabetes attending diabetes clinic at Ain- Shams University Hospital from 1 Jan. to 1 July 2018. Their ages range from 40 to 60 years old. Results On studying the Correlation between cortisol and prolactin with other laboratory findings showed that: There were no significant correlations between cortisol a.m. and prolactin with FBS, 2HPPBG and HbA1C (P &amp;gt; 0.05) in the first and third visits in group I. And no significant correlations between cortisol a.m. and prolactin with FBS and 2HPPBG (P &amp;gt; 0.05) in the second visit in group I. But there was a significant positive correlation between cortisol with FBS (P = 0.028) and HbA1C (P = 0.033) in group II. And a significant positive correlation between cortisol with FBS (P = 0.034) and 2HPPBG (P = 0.041) in group III. There was a highly significant positive correlation between cortisol and FBS (P = 0.001) in group III. And there was a highly significant positive correlation between prolactin with 2HPPBG (P = 0.008) in group II. Conclusion We conclude from this study that initiation of insulin therapy in poorly controlled diabetic patients achieves a highly significant reduction in blood glucose level. Also, insulin therapy in diabetic patients has impact on other hormones regulating blood glucose level as it reduces serum prolactin and cortisol levels. Also we conclude that prolactin is a diabetogenic hormone.