CLINICAL STUDY OF EARLY INSULIN THERAPY COMPARED TO ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC AGENTS IN NEWLY DETECTED TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS- A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Backgound: As the time progresses, type 2 diabetes usually worsens, oral medications become less effective, and more than a third of people must add insulin injections to their treatment regimen. Primary aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of early insulin therapy in newly detected type 2 diabetes mellitus as compared to oral hypoglycemic agents as a part of the conventional treatment regime. Materials and Methods: Newly diagnosed type 2 DM or/and diagnosed within the preceding six months, excluding pregnant women and patients with hepatic disorders, renal failure, acute infection, trauma, burns, acute myocardial infarction and malignancies were enrolled in the study. Results and Observations: 80 patients were selected randomly in two groups treated with OHA (A) and insulin (B).The decrease in FBS, PPBS and HbAlc was not significant (p > 0.05) in both the groups with a significant weight gain in group B (p<0.05) after six months of therapy .Follow up loss were 25% in group A as compared to 75% cases in group B. Conclusion: Improvements in the glycemic status in patients with newly detected type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with OHA and insulin is almost identical. Further studies with large number of patients with prolong duration are needed to arrive at a more clear cut conclusion regarding glycemic efficacy of early initiation of insulin specially in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.