Table 2 Comparison of diabetes management between patients initiating basal insulin with and without metformin after 6-month follow-up at visit 3, (Mean ± SD)

Full population initiating BI therapy ( N = 12,358)

N = 6621 (53.6 %)

N = 5737 (46.4 %)

 OAD number per day at visit 3

1.63 ± 0.76

1.19 ± 0.74

 Metformin (%)

85.9 %

16.1 %

 Sulfonylureas (%)

30.3 %

27.8 %

 Glinides (%)

18.3 %

28.6 %

 α-glycosidase inhibitors (%)

23.5 %

45.3 %

 BI dose at visit3 (U/day/kg)

0.16 ± 0.12

0.18 ± 0.11

 Insulin dose at visit3 (U/kg/day)

0.18 ± 0.13

0.20 ± 0.13

 Staple food at visit3 (g)

161.16 ± 44.02

156.15 ± 42.69

 Vegetables at visit3 (g)

188.08 ± 66.49

184.61 ± 64.72

 Fruit at visit3 (g)

100.17 ± 42.76

98.62 ± 39.86

 Meat at visit3 (g)

104.94 ± 37.26

103.09 ± 35.21

 Days of participating in >30 min physical activity in past 7 days at visit3

5.98 ± 1.99

5.86 ± 2.09

 Days of participating in specific exercise session in past 7 days at visit3

4.11 ± 2.91

4.00 ± 2.90

Sub-population keeping BI therapy during 6-month follow-up ( N  = 8068)

N = 4269 (52.9 %)

N = 3799 (47.1 %)

 OAD number per day at visit 3

1.75 ± 0.65

1.08 ± 0.66

 Sulfonylureas (%)

32.1 %

28.1 %

 Glinides (%)

17.8 %

28.6 %

 α-glycosidase inhibitors (%)

21.6 %

46.1 %

 BI dose at visit 3 (U/day/kg)

0.21 ± 0.09

0.21 ± 0.09

 Staple food at visit 3 (g)

161.37 ± 43.61

154.81 ± 41.17

 Vegetables at visit 3 (g)

185.73 ± 65.28

180.62 ± 63.87

 Fruit at visit 3 (g)

101.23 ± 41.63

98.59 ± 38.42

 Meat at visit 3 (g)

104.63 ± 36.96

101.54 ± 34.38

 Days of participating in >30 min physical activity in past 7 days at visit 3

5.98 ± 1.97

5.83 ± 2.10

 Days of participating in specific exercise session in past 7 days at visit 3

4.17 ± 2.88

3.99 ± 2.87