oral medications may be better than insulin for DM II

areensee

Long-term followup from a large cohort study confirms that in type 2 diabetes, a glycemic control strategy with insulin sensitizing reduces the incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, while also improving cardiovascular outcomes. Among type 2 diabetes patients followed for up to 4 years, a glycemic control regimen including metformin and/or thiazolidinediones reduced the incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy better than administering insulin. The authors also explain why men may benefit more than women from this strategy.

See this research paper:

Impact of Glycemic Control Strategies on the Progression of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) Cohort
Diabetes Care | Jun 11, 2013