Dosing of insulin glargine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease characterized by insulin resistance and declining beta-cell function, often leading to a requirement for insulin therapy to maintain good glycemic control and prevent diabetes-associated complications. Adequate insulin dosing is crucial to the achievement of good glycemic control with minimal hypoglycemia, and dose titration immediately following insulin initiation is needed to ensure its success. Insulin may be initiated as an add-on therapy to oral treatment using a single evening basal insulin dose and titrating according to fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels (with an ideal target of or=5.6-or=6.7-or=7.8-or=10 mmol/L [>or=100-or=120-or=140-or=180 mg/dL], respectively, in the absence of plasma glucose