Short-term intensive insulin therapy at diagnosis in type 2 diabetes: plan for filling the gaps

Summary Short‐term intensive insulin therapy is unique amongst therapies for type 2 diabetes because it offers the potential to preserve and improve beta‐cell function without additional pharmacological treatment. On the basis of clinical experience and the promising results of a series of studies in newly diagnosed patients, mostly in Asian populations, an expert workshop was convened to assess the available evidence and the potential application of short‐term intensive insulin therapy should it be advocated for inclusion in clinical practice. Participants included primary care physicians and endocrinologists. We endorse the concept of short‐term intensive insulin therapy as an option for some patients with type 2 diabetes at the time of diagnosis and have identified the following six areas where additional knowledge could help clarify optimal use in clinical practice: (1) generalizability to primary care, (2) target population and biomarkers, (3) follow‐up treatment, (4) education of patients and providers, (5) relevance of ethnicity, and (6) health economics. © 2014 The Authors. Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.