Clinical benefits and mechanisms of a sustained response to intermittent insulin therapy in type 2 diabetic patients with secondary drug failure

To test the hypothesis that short-term insulin therapy may induce long-lasting metabolic improvements in patients with type 2 diabetes resistant to oral therapy, 19 patients were studied before and four weeks after insulin therapy, and again four weeks after resumption of oral medication. The mechanisms associated with changes of glycemic control after discontinuation of insulin therapy were also evaluated. During insulin therapy, blood glucose levels (228 ± 13 versus 123 ±18 mg/dl, p