New study shows that even short-term Intensive Insulin Therapy (IIT) in Type 2 diabetes can improve Quality Of Life (QOL) and treatment satisfaction.

     Researchers selected 34 patients with Type 2 diabetes (5.9 ± 6.6 years duration, on zero to two oral antihyperglycemic agents) who underwent 4-8 weeks of IIT consisting of basal detemir and pre-meal insulin aspart. Patient-reported QOL, treatment satisfaction and symptom distress were assessed at baseline and post-IIT using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Diabetes Quality of Life Measure (DQOL), and Diabetes Symptoms Checklist-Revised (DSC-R).

     There was a significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin post-IIT (mean 6.5% vs. 7%; P < 0.001). All 34 patients tolerated IIT well with no severe hypoglycemia. Following IIT, the SF-36 showed a significant improvement compared to baseline in reported physical functioning (mean 88.2 vs. 83.3, P = 0.009), general health (69.4 vs. 65.6, P = 0.03), and general mental health (85.2 vs. 82.2, P = 0.04). The DQOL demonstrated a significant improvement in global health perception (P = 0.02), diabetes worry (P = 0.006) and treatment satisfaction (P = 0.007). The DSC-R revealed a significant improvement in the diabetes-related total symptom score (P = 0.01).

     The results concluded that, contrary to popular perception, a short course of IIT resulted in significant improvements in QOL and treatment satisfaction, demonstrating the patient acceptability of early insulin therapy.