Due to the progressive nature of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), initiation of insulin therapy is very likely in the disease continuum. This article aims at highlighting the current situation with regard to insulin therapy in people with T2DM in Europe and at presenting the associated unmet need. Challenges for both people with T2DM and healthcare professionals include clinical inertia also derived from fear of hypoglycaemia, weight gain and injections as well as increased need for a comprehensive diabetes management. We compare national and international guidelines and recommendations for the initiation and intensification of insulin therapy with the real-world situation in six European countries, demonstrating that glycaemic targets are only met in a minority of people with T2DM on insulin therapy. Furthermore, this work evaluates currently recorded numbers of people with T2DM treated with insulin in Europe, the proportion not achieving the stated glycaemic targets and thus in need to enhance insulin therapy e.g. by a change in means of insulin delivery including, but not limited to, insulin pens, wearable mealtime insulin delivery patches, patch pumps, and conventional insulin pumps with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.

中文翻译：

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欧洲2型糖尿病的负担：从患者和医疗保健支出的角度来看，胰岛素治疗的当前和未来方面。

由于2型糖尿病（T2DM）的进行性，在疾病连续过程中很可能开始胰岛素治疗。本文旨在重点介绍欧洲T2DM患者胰岛素治疗的现状，并提出相关的未满足需求。患有T2DM的人和医疗保健专业人员面临的挑战包括临床惯性，这也源于对低血糖，体重增加和注射的恐惧，以及对全面糖尿病管理的需求增加。我们比较了在六个欧洲国家中胰岛素治疗的启动和强化的国家和国际准则和建议与现实情况的比较，这表明只有少数T2DM胰岛素治疗患者达到了血糖目标。此外，