Intensive insulin therapy for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus--results in the patients from single hospital.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the clinical characteristics of intensive insulin therapy in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients who commenced intensive insulin therapy during the in-hospital diabetes education program at Tokai university hospital. METHODS: 81 type 2 diabetes patients who received intensive insulin therapy and in-hospital diabetes education program were examined their clinical features. RESULTS: Intensive insulin therapy maintained HbA(1C) below 7% at all time points during the 2-year follow-up, though it was not necessary to increase the insulin dose, thus highlighting the clinical utility of the therapy in preventing diabetic complications. Insulin therapy could be withdrawn from more than 25% of patients. The diabetic morbid period was shorter and urinary C-peptide level at admission was higher in patients of the withdrawal group than those of the non-withdrawal group, suggesting that patients with well maintained pancreatic β cell reserve could be withdrawn from insulin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results of the efficacy of strict glycemic control for preventing the development and progression of diabetic complications, we recommend early introduction of intensive insulin therapy to achieve better glycemic control.