Early Insulin Treatment in Patients With Latent Autoimmune Diabetes
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2005-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Among adult patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, about 6% have autoantibodies directed
against the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. These patients have a progressive
beta cell destruction and most of them will be insulin dependent within 3-5 yrs. Patients
with this latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) have a considerable remaining beta cell
mass at diagnosis, and are suitable for evaluating new therapies for autoimmune diabetes
Animal studies in diabetes prone mice have demonstrated potential positive effects of early
insulin treatment, with a lower incidence of diabetes or a delay before diagnosis. The aim of
this study was to investigate the effect of early insulin treatment of LADA patients, in
respect to residual beta-cell function and metabolic control, compared to a group who were
conventionally treated with diet and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) and insulin not
before it was clinically needed.