Aims: To evaluate the influence of addition of rosiglitazone to insulin therapy over a 24-week period in massively obese patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes taking large doses of insulin.
Methods: Eight massively obese patients (median body mass index (BMI) 42 kg/m2) with Type 2 diabetes who were on large doses of insulin (median daily dose of 204 U) and/or had poor glycaemic control (median HbA1c of 8.1% (upper limit for normal 5.5%)) were treated over a 24-week period with the combination of insulin and maximum doses of rosiglitazone. Outcomes monitored were changes in weight, BMI, HbA1c, dose of insulin and development of side-effects.
Results: At the end of 24 weeks there was a median weight gain of 3 kg (P < 0.01), a fall in median HbA1c from 8.1% to 6.7% (16% reduction from baseline) (P < 0.01) and a reduction in median insulin dose from 204 U/day to 159 U/day (P < 0.01) (23% reduction from baseline). Peripheral oedema was the only significant side-effect and was seen in five patients.
Conclusions: Combination of insulin and rosiglitazone is effective in massively obese patients with Type 2 diabetes, though there is a high incidence of peripheral oedema.