INS and cancer: In similar analyses performed using the 1 year categories for longer duration of exposure (≥6 years) and both sexes combined (not sex-specific cancers), results remained similar (ESM Fig. 1): RR (95% CI) 1.41 (1.11, 1.79) for colorectal cancer for <0.5 year, 0.67 (0.43, 1.03) for pancreatic cancer for 2–3 years, 0.44 (0.21, 0.91) for liver cancer for 3–4 years and 1.60 (1.05, 2.43) for melanoma of the skin for 4–5 years of insulin glargine vs human insulin use.