Experts: More research needed

Academics have given a cautious welcome to research showing the benefits of intensive insulin treatment to people with type two diabetes.

A Chinese study published in the Lancet showed a short course of early injections resulted in patients regaining blood glucose control a year after treatment began.

Two hormone experts have agreed the research is encouraging but insisted further investigation was required.

"Although the relevant biological mechanisms and target tissues contributing to preferential improvement in [insulin-producing]-cell function remain unclear, these data suggest that use of intensive insulin therapy early in the course of type two diabetes warrants further clinical investigation," said Dr Ravi Retnakaran and Dr Daniel J Drucker, division of endocrinology, University of Toronto, Canada.