This study was designed to explore the effect of glimepiride combined with recombinant human insulin injection on serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and oxidative stress levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This evidence concerns the gene IGF1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.