ABSTRACT
Insulin has traditionally been considered a treatment of last resort for individuals with type 2 diabetes, delayed until all other eorts by the patient and healthcare provider have failed. As β-cell function declines over time, the need for replacement insulin will increase in order to normalise blood glucose levels. β-cell decline can occur due to a number of factors, and the rate of β-cell decline and the degree of insulin resistance will be dierent for each individual. As a result, the right time to begin insulin will dier from person to person. In recognition of this, recent treatment guidelines recommend the use of insulin, in particular basal insulin, as part of a treatment regimen earlier in the disease process.
