Practical guidance on basal insulin initiation and titration in Asia: A delphi-based consensus

• Main Authors: Chan, Siew Pheng, Aamir, Azizul Hasan, Bee, Yong Mong, Deerochanawong, Chaicharn, Paz-Pacheco, Elizabeth, Tiu, Fatma, Foo, Siew Hui, Tan, Kevin E. K., Le, Toan Q., Saraswati, Made Ratna, Bunnag, Pongamorn, Panusunan Sibarani, Roy, Raza, Syed Abbas, Tran, Nam Quang
• Format: Article
• Published: Springer Heidelberg 2022
• Subjects: R Medicine; RA Public aspects of medicine; RS Pharmacy and materia medica
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/41687/

The global health burden of diabetes is on the rise and has affected more than half a billion people worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia, North Africa, Africa, and the Western Pacific, Middle East, and South and Central America regions of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Despite many new treatments being available for the management of diabetes, glycemic control remains suboptimal in Asia, compared to the rest of the world. Delay in timely insulin initiation and inadequate titration of insulin are regarded to be some of the important reasons for inadequate glycemic control. Additionally, Asian populations have a distinct phenotype, including a younger age of onset and higher glycemic excursions, suggestive of a lower beta-cell function, as compared to non-Asians. Although there are multiple local and international guidelines on insulin initiation and titration, some of these guidelines can be complex. There is an unmet need for guideline recommendations on basal insulin initiation and titrat