Researchers believe a once-daily shot of Sanofi-Aventis' insulin drug Lantus can control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes just as effectively as three daily injections of Eli Lilly's Humalog. Following a Sanofi-Aventis-funded study that involved 400 people with type 2 diabetes, those who took Lantus saw a 1.7 percent decrease over time, compared to a 1.9 percent decrease in the group using Humalog.

Researchers concluded in their report that Lantus is indeed a simple and effective option to treat type 2 diabetes, since it was associated with a lower risk of hypoglycemia, fewer injections, less blood glucose self monitoring and greater patient satisfaction compared to Humalog.

Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and even amputations if blood sugar control is not maintained. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body cannot use the hormone insulin properly. It has been linked to obesity in many people.

The results of the study have been published in the March 29 edition of The Lancet.