Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes, Table of Contents Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2007; 115(5): 339-340DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967087 Letter to the editor © J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG · Stuttgart · New York Is Basal Insulin Always the First Choice for Initiation of Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients? E. Mannucci 1 , M. Monami 1 , G. Masotti 1 , N. Marchionni 1 1Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Gerontology and Geriatrics,University of Florence, Florence, Italy Recommend Article Abstract Buy Article Key words diabetes - insulin therapy - oral drugs Full Text References References 1 Nathan DM, Buse JB, Davidson MB, Heine RJ, Holman RR, Sherwin R, Zinman B. Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Algorithm for the Initiation and Adjustment of Therapy: A consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2006; 29 1963-1972 2 Simons WR, Vinod HD, Gerber RA, Bolinder B. Does rapid transition to insulin therapy in subjects with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus benefit glycaemic control and diabetes-related complications? A German population-based study. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes. 2006; 114 520-526 3 Bouma M, Dekker JH, de Sonnaville JJ, van der Does FE, de VH, Kriegsman DM, Kostense PJ, Heine RJ, van Eijk JT. How valid is fasting plasma glucose as a parameter of glycemic control in non-insulin-using patients with type 2 diabetes?. Diabetes Care. 1999; 22 904-907 4 Bonora E, Calcaterra F, Lombardi S, Bonfante N, Formentini G, Bonadonna RC, Muggeo M. Plasma glucose levels throughout the day and HbA(1c) interrelationships in type 2 diabetes: implications for treatment and monitoring of metabolic control. Diabetes Care. 2001; 24 2023-2029 5 Monnier L, Lapinski H, Colette C. Contributions of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose increments to the overall diurnal hyperglycemia of type 2 diabetic patients: variations with increasing levels of HbA(1c). Diabetes Care. 2003; 26 881-885 6 Schreiber SA, Russmann A. Insulin glargine and educational intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice: Long-term improvement in glycaemic control without weight gain. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes. 2006; 114 41-42 7 Kann PH, Wascher T, Zackova V, Moeller J, Medding J, Szocs A, Mokan M, Mrevlje F, Regulski M. Starting insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes: Twice-daily biphasic insulin Aspart 30 plus metformin versus once-daily insulin Glargine plus glimepiride. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes. 2006; 114 527-532 Correspondence E. Mannucci Geriatric Unit. Department of Critical Care, Ospedale di Careggi Via delle Oblate 4 - 50141 Florence Italy Phone: +39/055/427 94 30 Fax: +39/055/427 94 60 Email: mmonami@libero.it Email: edoardo.mannucci@fastwebnet.it