Oct 19, 2015 11:34 AM EDT By Rashmi Kalia, UniversityHerald Reporter

A research study suggests that early insulin therapy is beneficial for patients with type 2 diabetes, Tech Times reports.

The pilot research involving 23 adults discovered that an early insulin therapy was equal to 15 months' worth of oral treatment and may enhance the body's insulin-producing capability.

The study was conducted by experts from Ohio University and Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The study revealed that the group that was given insulin had its levels of A1C, which reflects average blood sugar for the last two to three months, was reduced from 10.1 percent to 6.7 percent after 15 months. The group that took the intensive oral therapy had its A1C level drop from 9.9 percent to 6.8 percent.

The other benefits of the insulin treatment were that the insulin group tolerated the treatment without severe hypoglycemia. Also, the intensive oral therapy group gained weight, while the insulin therapy group lost five pounds at an average.

Lead researcher Dr. Jay Shubrook said show that early insulin can improve the body's natural ability to secrete the hormone.

"[E]arly insulin therapy protects beta cells in the pancreas that respond to glucose and produce insulin," he explained.

Dr. Shubrook stressed on the importance of earlier interventions in type 2 diabetes, where intensive early insulin is promoted for remission and safe therapy. 

"This study needs to be expanded," he added, encouraging doing "head to head trials" and bigger studies.

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