Current trends in insulin therapy

Overview

In January 2025, 103 years have passed since the injection of insulin saved the life of the first patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the article is to familiarize readers with current insulin therapy, which is an essential treatment modality for patients with type 1 diabetes, but also for many patients with other types of diabetes mellitus. The current treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes consists of using 2nd generation insulin analogues, either rapid in insulin pumps, which now also have the so-called hybrid closed-loop function, or patients apply a rapid analogue in combination with a basal analogue by insulin pens. Adjusting insulin doses according to data from glucose sensors has become a common praxis. Patients with type 2 diabetes also use modern insulin therapy. They can especially benefit from formulas that combine a basal insulin analogue with a GLP-1 receptor agonist. In addition, 3rd generation basal insulin analogues with application only once a week are approaching clinical practice. This can significantly help simplify the logistics of insulin therapy and thus improve adherence to treatment for at least certain groups of patients.

Keywords:

diabetes – insulin resistance – insulin – insulin analogues – insulin administered once a week.