Objective:

To identify the best cost-effective intervention for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, at the first level of care, when the patient requires the use of insulin, based on previous clinical analysis.

Materials and methods:

A cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out, from the provider perspective. The cost of three types of insulin as a control drug were obtained: glargine insulin, neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin and lispro insulin/lispro protamine 25-75 IU. The effectiveness indicators were obtained from previous studies that analyzed the effect on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Results:

The intervention that presented the best cost-effective coefficient was the treatment with glargine insulin, with a value of 570, compared to 643.1 for the NPH insulin and 57 for the lispro/lispro protamine insulin.

Conclusions:

Glargine insulin is the treatment in patients who require insulins, without microvascular damage, that presents the best evidence to invest in, because of its cost and efficiency (analyzed through a cost- efficiency coefficient). These results may be considered in the Mexican context to improve drug’s acquisition and the treatment standards to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.