Tolerability, safety and adherence to treatment with insulin detemir injection in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Review

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Author: Athena Philis-Tsimikas

Published Date November 2008 Volume 2008:2 Pages 323 - 332

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S3293

Athena Philis-Tsimikas

Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA

Abstract: The progressive nature of type 2 diabetes poses challenges in the clinic: treatment must be continually reviewed and adjusted in response to the patient’s changing pathophysiology. Ultimately, insulin replacement therapy will be necessary as the physiological insulin response is compromised. The modern basal insulin analog insulin detemir has been the subject of several clinical trials and observational studies in type 2 diabetes. Compared with NPH insulin, insulin detemir offers an improved balance between achieving current glycemic targets with acceptable tolerability. Insulin detemir also has a unique weight-sparing effect which is associated with body mass index, and this may be a particular advantage to obese patients with type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes data from key clinical studies of insulin detemir, and also provides insights from observational studies.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin detemir, modern analog, basal insulin