Diabetes can be treated best with early insulin therapy: study

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Diabetes is a progressive disease that occurs when the beta cell function declines, causing the elevation of glucose in the blood, a term known as hyperglycemia, Medical Research writes. Based on current guidelines, physicians recommend lifestyle change before adding medications to the treatment but as patients do not often return for a followup every two to three months, the medical condition worsens or takes years before being properly controlled. Fortunately, a new study has discovered that by giving early insulin therapy to patients, diabetes can be controlled easily and quickly.

In an interview with lead researcher and director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Services in Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Jay H. Shubrook explains that the INSPIRE or "Intensive Insulin as the Primary Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes" trial was able to test how early insulin intervention can affect the glucose control, beta cell function, and side effects of a person. Their study was compared to the 2009 ADA treatment guidelines, showing better and more effective results.

The pilot study was tested on 23 newly diagnosed adult participants, Eureka Alert reports. They were divided into two groups, where the first one received intensive oral therapy and the other group got insulin therapy. They were observed for a duration of 15 months.

Based on the findings, the insulin-treated group had shown significant improvement in their A1C level, dropping to 6.7 percent from 10.1 percent. This group also showed no severe hypoglycemia and weight loss of at least five pounds. The oral therapy group showed a decrease in A1C levels, from 9.9 percent to 6.8 percent, but also experienced weight gain.

Daily News & Analysis adds that Dr. Shubrook shares that the findings further support the notion of how early insulin intervention can enhance and improve the ability of the body to secrete natural insulin. This is possibly due to how the insulin is able to protect the beta cells that are responsible for the production of insulin and maintenance of glucose. A 2014 study published in Cell Metabolism calls this process the "re-differentiation of beta cells."

The study can help keep the disease in remission and avoid the side effects of insulin. However, Dr. Shubrook and his team believe additional and larger studies must be conducted to expand the scope of the study. It is best to clinically test the findings to show if it can indeed maintain its effectiveness and create a standard where guidelines can be based.