Initiating insulin: How to help people with type 2 diabetes start and continue insulin successfully

With the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes worldwide, healthcare professionals (HCPs) find an increasing proportion of their time devoted to the management of diabetes. Because this condition is chronic and characterised by progressive decreases in insulin secretion and sensitivity, insulin therapy becomes necessary for a large number of persons with type 2 diabetes.1 However, despite the efficacy of insulin treatment, patients and their HCPs continue to be challenged with reaching glycaemic goals and maintaining long‐term insulin therapy. As many as 30%‐50% of patients may remain above their glucose target 6 months after starting basal insulin.2, 3 One key contributor is problematic patient adherence. In this paper, we consider what factors may be critical to encouraging successful insulin initiation and promoting long‐term treatment maintenance, and we provide practical tips to help with this important transition, particularly in the current environment of limited time and resources.