Type 2 diabetes is a disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive deterioration of β-cell insulin secretion. β-cell protective strategies lowering glucolipotoxicity by rapid achievement of normoglycemia using exogenous insulin improve their function and prolong diabetes remission. Insulin pump is an effective treatment method in newly diagnosed diabetes, where even short-term pump therapy is β-cell protective.
Combination therapy with insulin pump and antidiabetics targeting the incretin system acts in synergy to protect the β-cell. While the positive effect of insulin pump is apparent even a year after stopping the therapy, the effect of incretins lasts only while on the medication.
Short-term insulin treatment, especially delivered by insulin pump, is an effective method of β-cell protection in recent type 2 diabetes.