Resource Utilization and Costs Associated with Using Insulin Therapy Within a Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Population

BACKGROUND: Although oral antidiabetic medications are the mainstay for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), patients often require insulin therapy to achieve optimal glycemic control. Given the prevalence of insulin use among patients with T2DM, this study evaluated the economic impact of this treatment modality in patients treated in a managed care setting. OBJECTIVE: To estimate costs and resource utilization associated with using insulin therapy among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM who were initially treated with other noninsulin antidiabetic (NIAD) medications. METHODS: An observational, retrospective study design was implemented using integrated medical and pharmacy claims data. Adults with a diagnosis of T2DM from July 1, 2003, through March 31, 2008, were identified. The date of first diagnosis was deemed the index date. The 24-month period after the index date was used to assess treatment patterns. Based on the treatment patterns, the following 2 cohorts were selected: NIAD-only cohort, ...