How many oral antidiabetic drugs before insulin?

Worsening of glycemic control in type 2 Diabetes mellitus occur on account of declining beta cell function. This calls for up titration of the chosen drug, addition of another agent with complementary action and eventually insulin usually after 2 or three OADs. Introduction of insulin has many issues which include parenteral route of administration, cost and enhancement of hypoglycemic tendency. We propose the addition of another OAD in lieu of insulin in whom glycemic control can be achieved equally well without insulin