Abstract
In order to provide insulin delivery, it is advisable to use a certain combination of various insulin preparations. Essentially, insulin regimens can be divided into conventional (= administration of 1 or 2 injections/day of depot insulin or of a mixture of depot and shortacting insulin) and intensified (= administration of 3 and more daily injections of short-acting and depot insulin + self-monitoring and other measures) ones.
Intensified insulin regimens also include the treatment with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion using an insulin pump. Selecting a particular type of insulin regimen depends on the levels of glycaemia in a particular patient - fasting hyperglycaemia will most likely be managed by administering basal insulin at 10 pm whereas postprandial variation in glycaemia is best managed by administering short-acting human insulin or a short-acting insulin analogue before the meal.
There are numerous options when selecting an insulin regimen. No matter which option is chosen, metabolic compensation is almost invariably achieved; however, optimal control can only be achieved when the pathophysiological principles and individualisation of treatment are taken into account in particular patients.