Insulin therapy in diabetes. The importance of good glucose control.

Good blood glucose control is desirable to prevent or retard the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. In diabetics who have a nearly normal hemoglobin A1c (glycohemoglobin) concentration and who can adjust their diet and activities to avoid hypoglycemia, one insulin injection daily may be adequate. In most insulin-dependent diabetics, however, a more complicated insulin regimen, tailored to the patient's needs, is required. The best treatment regimen is one that causes minimal disruption in the patient's life-style, costs little, yet produces good results. Glucose levels should be assessed frequently and therapy adjusted as needed. Although good glucose control is difficult to achieve, new monitoring techniques and insulin delivery systems have made the goal more attainable than ever before. By following the motto "Recheck often and change PRN," physicians can achieve the goal in more patients and thus help reduce the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus.