Supplement Article
The Evolving Science and Practice of Insulin Therapy
Why was I so captivated by the practical aspect of this Congress? Irl Hirsch, MD, alluded to possible reasons himself during the 66th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, which were held earlier in the summer (June 9–13, 2006) in Washington, DC. During one discussion, he reminded the panelists and audience that 90% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) will be cared for by the primary care community; and in the primary care community, practicality is of extreme importance. Any new treatment to be widely accepted in primary care must be affordable, must be reasonably simple to institute, and must work with a minimum of adverse effects and problems—in short, it must be practical. The widespread adoption by many primary care physicians of the earlier use of single daily doses of basal insulin therapy is a testimony to the power of practicality. Of course, this drive for practicality must always be balanced by the need for excellence in care. The inaugural Insulin Congress faithfully supports both standards.
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