Objective  To compare the effect of insulin glargine combined with oral hypoglycemic agents and premixed insulin combined with oral hypoglycemic agents in treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

  Methods  A total of 84 patients with T2DM were randomly divided into group A and group B, with 42 cases in each group. Group A was treated with subcutaneous injection of insulin glargine combined with acarbose, while group B was treated with premixed insulin combined with acarboses. The value of blood glucose monitoring, insulin dosage and blood sugar achievement were compared before and after treatment between two groups.

  Results  After treatment, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the control rate of FBG, PBG and HbA1c between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). The dosage of insulin in group A was significantly less than that in group B, and the incidence rate of hypoglycemia was significantly lower than that in group B (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events between the two groups (P>0.05).

  Conclusion  Both insulin glargine and premixed insulin combined with acarbose can effectively control blood sugar, but insulin glargine combined with acarbose can significantly reduce insulin dosage and the incidence rate of hypoglycemia.