Abstract



Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases, so that the number of diabetics was 221 million worldwide in 2010. Diabetes has no decisive cure and can lead to fatal complications. This disease is the most common cause of amputation, blindness and chronic renal failure and one of the most important risk factors for coronary heart diseases (Masoudi et al., 2004). The global incidence of diabetes is increasing due to the increased obesity and decreased physical activity (Bidarpour et al., 2003). Non-insulin dependent or type 2 diabetes is now an epidemic in the United States; and it had the prevalence of 7 percent in adults over 30 years in 2000 (Hillier and Pedula, 2001).


 




Keywords: Treatment Diabetic Patients Insulin Sulfonylureas Metformin Biology


Letter to Editor

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases, so that the number of diabetics was 221 million worldwide in 2010. Diabetes has no decisive cure and can lead to fatal complications. This disease is the most common cause of amputation, blindness and chronic renal failure and one of the most important risk factors for coronary heart diseases Masoudi et al., 2004. The global incidence of diabetes is increasing due to the increased obesity and decreased physical activity Bidarpour et al., 2003. Non-insulin dependent or type 2 diabetes is now an epidemic in the United States; and it had the prevalence of 7 percent in adults over 30 years in 2000 Hillier and Pedula, 2001.

Despite the fact that the complete prevention of diabetes complications is not possible, the evidence suggests that the Glycemic control in diabetic patients can delay or reduce the incidence of debilitating and even fatal diabetes complications Pringle et al., 1993.

Based on the recommendations of the American Diabetes Association, the treatment should be started by changes in lifestyle and taking Metformin in diabetic patients with proper renal function with the aim at achieving the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) equal to or less than 7% Fenton et al., 2006. Typically, the patients should take another supplemental drug in addition to Metformin in order to achieve this goal. However, there is not any scientific evidence or consensus on the type of received medication by patient as the adjunct therapy Inzucchi et al., 2012.

Clinicians utilize insulin for fast and flexible control of blood glucose levels. Furthermore, several studies of clinical trial have found that the early start of insulin is effective in preserving the beta cell function Harrison et al., 2012. Accordingly, the insulin therapy is increasingly associated with monotherapy of Metformin as the adjunctive therapy Holden et al., 2011. However, most of the patients tend to postpone the use of insulin because of concern about difficult insulin injection, hypoglycemia and overweight. According to study by Roumie et al, the risk of diabetes complications and mortality is higher in group of patients, who receive insulin plus Metformin, compared to a group of patients who receive Metformin and Sulfonylureas, so that the ratio of adjusted risk is equal to 1.21 (1.07-1.58, 95% CI) for cardiovascular disease and overall mortality, and 1.44 (1.15-1.79, 95% CI) for all-cause mortality, 1.21 (0.74-2, 95% CI) for death from cardiovascular disease, and 1.85 (1.21-2.84, 95% CI) for death from cancer. Therefore, due to the insufficient scientific evidence, it is difficult to make decisions about the use of insulin or Sulfonylureas as the adjunct therapy to Metformin Roumie et al., 2014. Therefore, it is suggested conducting more clinical and epidemiological trials for determining the best drug as the intensified therapy in diabetic patients, so that the clinicians can more effectively select and prescribe the best drug combination for treatment of diabetics based on the obtained results.

Abbreviations

CI: Confidence Interval

HbA1c: glycated haemoglobin (A1c)

References

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