2004 Volume 47 Issue 4 Pages 271-275
In patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus treated with insulin, we studied the clinical parameters for predicting the possibility of insulin therapy withdrawal. Subjects were 83 patients undergoing intensive insulin therapy. Insulin therapy was withdrawn in 42 but not in 41. Age, BMI, diabetes duration, HbA1c, serum fasting CPR (s-CPR), 24 hour urinary CPR (u-CPR), and insulin dose were compared in the withdrawal and continuation groups. Indicators for insulin withdrawal were HbA1c 6.5% and insulin dose<0.3U/kg body weight. Age, BMI, HbA1c, s-CPR, and u-CPR at baseline did not differ significantly between groups, but diabetes duration was significantly shorter in the insulin withdrawal group (p<0.05).HbAic at withdrawal (about 4 months after induction) was significantly lower than at 4 months after induction in the group continuing insulin therapy (p<0.0001).At the same point, insulin dose was lower in those withdrawing (p<0.0001). These results indicate that diabetes duration may be a predictor in withdrawal from insulin therapy, and insulin dose and glycemic control assessed by HbA1c may be indicators for assessing insulin withdrawal.
