Capsule Commentary on Pilla et al., Predictors of Insulin Initiation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: an Analysis of the Look AHEAD Randomized Trial

Excerpt

This study by Pilla et al.1 identifies sociodemographic and clinical predictors of insulin initiation among participants enrolled in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial.2 Nearly 28% of study participants not using insulin at baseline were found to have initiated insulin for management of type 2 diabetes during a median follow-up of 8 years. Using Cox proportional hazards models, the investigators found that insulin initiation was inversely associated with older age and Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity and positively associated with hemoglobin A1C, current smoking, body mass index, hypertension, the presence of macrovascular and microvascular complications, number of antihyperglycemic drugs, family history of diabetes, and care at a hospital-affiliated medical clinic. …