Glycosylated hemoglobin level and number of oral antidiabetic drugs predict whether or not glycemic target is achieved in insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes

AimsFactors predicting success (glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) < 7%) with insulin therapy in patients with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes need to be identified.MethodsA retrospective, multi-center, observational study was conducted for outpatients with oral antidiabetic drug (OAD)-treated type 2 diabetes whose A1C levels remained above 7%. Patients were begun on basal insulin between January 2005 and December 2006. Biochemical variables and demographic data were collected before and after 52 weeks of insulin therapy.ResultsA total of 565 patients (age, 60.4 ± 11.9 years; A1C levels, 10.11 ±1.81%; duration of diabetes, 11.5 ± 6.8 years) were studied. By study end, 63 patients (11.2%) had achieved the glycemic goal (A1C < 7%). The glycemic goal attainment rate was only 9.1% in patients with A1C > 8.8% and who were taking >2 OADs at baseline. The highest rate (32.7%) of successful glycemic control was observed in the group of patients with A1C ≤ 8.8% and who used ≤ 2 OADs at baseline.ConclusionsInsulin-naïve diabetic patients with A1C > 8.8%, especially those who are taking >2 OADs, have small chance to achieve good glycemic control with adding only basal insulin therapy.