Abstract
Summary: Basal insulin is indisputably part of the portfolio of antidiabetic medication of all types of diabetes mellitus. We switched from NPH insulin through the first generation of basal insulin analogues (insulin glargine 100 U / ml, insulin detemir) to the currently well-established second generation basal insulin analogues (insulin glargine 300 U / ml, insulin degludek).
The second generation of basal insulins offers similar or better efficacy compared to the first generation, but with a better safety profile. The lower risk of hypoglycaemia has been clearly demonstrated in both randomized clinical trials and field trials [1-6].
The purpose of this article is not to discuss the differences between specific preparations, but to point out some less discussed aspects that could guide doctors to the right choice of basal insulin.