Insulin analogue therapy improves quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes in India: the A1chieve study

AIMS

To determine the effects on quality of life after starting insulin with, or switching to, insulin analogue therapies in Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the 24-week, prospective, observational A1chieve study.

METHODS

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed at baseline and at 24 weeks by the validated EQ-5D questionnaire (visual analogue score [VAS] and five dimensions) in 20,554 people who had started using basal insulin detemir, mealtime insulin aspart (with or without a basal insulin) or biphasic insulin aspart 30.

RESULTS

Quality of life improved in both insulin-naive and insulin experienced patients in all treatment groups. At the start of the study, 63.2% of the insulin-naive patients reported problems with walking but after 24 weeks, only 15.2% reported difficulties. At baseline all HrQOL parameters were deteriorated in Indian cohort and the improvement observed was highly significant and well appreciated. The improvement was seen across all insulin regimen and all regions around India.

CONCLUSION

Compared with baseline scores, HRQoL improvement was seen after 24 weeks of treatment with all insulin analogue therapies

Comparison of daily glucose excursion by continuous glucose monitoring between type 2 diabetic patients receiving preprandial insulin aspart or postprandial insulin glulisine

Insulin glulisine (Glu) is a rapidly-acting insulin analog with a faster onset of action than the other insulin analogs of its class, which are insulin aspart (Asp) and insulin lispro (Lisp). While insulin Glu is usually injected just before meals, postprandial injection may help to avoid unexpected postprandial hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia by adjusting the insulin dosage according to food intake. However, the effect of postprandial insulin Glu on the glucose profile has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to compare daily glucose excursion by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) between multiple daily doses of preprandial insulin Asp or postprandial insulin Glu. In a randomized cross-over trial, we performed CGM to evaluate the 48-hour glucose profile during treatment with the same dosage of insulin Asp just before each meal in 12 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients also received the same dosage of long-acting insulin glargine at bedtime. The average glucose level, standard deviation of the glucose level, mean amplitude of glucose excursion, and daily glucose profile did not differ between preprandial Asp and postprandial Glu. The incidence of hypoglycemic episodes (glucose level<70 mg/dL with or without symptoms) and the area under the curve of glucose<70 mg/dL also did not differ between the two insulin regimens. Multiple daily injections of preprandial Asp and postprandial Glu achieved the same daily glucose excursion profile. Postprandial injection of Glu may provide greater flexibility for patients who require insulin therapy.

Improvement of glycemic control with addition of insulin detemir to existing antidiabetic therapy: a sub-group analysis of A1chieve observational study

BACKGROUND

The A1chieve study evaluated safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in a large and diverse population. This report presents a subgroup analysis of the A1chieve observational study pertaining to India.

OBJECTIVE

To assess safety and effectiveness of initiation or intensification of insulin detemir in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) not achieving adequate glycemic control.

METHODS

The A1chieve study was a prospective, multi-center, open-label, non-interventional study of 24-weeks duration. In this post-hoc analysis, Indian patients with T2DM who did not achieve their glycemic targets, and were started with or switched to insulin detemir, were evaluated at baseline and after 24 weeks of therapy for safety and effectiveness. Adverse events (AE) noted during the course of therapy were recorded. Additionally Glycemic, non-glycemic parameters and quality of life indices were reported. Appropriate statistical analysis was carried out to assess the statistical significance.

RESULTS

The Indian cohort of 2707 patients with T2DM treated with insulin detemir included 2336 (86.29%) insulin-naive and 371 (13.71%) insulin-experienced patients. No adverse drug reaction (ADR) was noted over 24 weeks, one patient (out of 2707) reported serious adverse event. Major hypoglycemia was reported in 0.5% (0.08 events/patient year) patients and reduced to 0% (0 events/patient year) over 24 weeks. After 24 weeks' treatment with insulin detemir, an overall reduction in HbA(1c) of 2.1% was noted (p < 0.001), with a 2.1% (p < 0.001) and 2% (p < 0.001) reduction in insulin-naive and insulin-experienced groups, respectively. A significant reduction in fasting ([mean +/- SD] -3.8 +/- 2.5 mmol/L) and postprandial (-5.2 +/- 3.9 mmol/L) blood glucose (FPG and PPG) was also observed (p < 0.001 for both). At end of the study, 24.4% patients achieved the ADA target of < 7.0% and 14.3% patients achieved the AACE target of < 6.5% for HbA(1c). A significant improvement in quality of life indices like ED-5D (0.31 +/- 0.29; p < 0.001) and EQ-VAS (21.7 +/- 16.7; p < 0.001) was noticed.

CONCLUSION

In patients with T2DM not achieving their glycemic targets addition of basal insulin detemir was well tolerated and reported improvement in glycemic control.

Early insulin treatment in type 2 diabetes: ORIGINal sin or valuable choice as ORIGINal treatment? An open debate on the ORIGIN study results

Diabetes is ultimately the result of relative or absolute insulin deficiency; insulin should therefore represent its "natural" treatment, from the very moment of diagnosis, or even earlier, such as any other hormonal deficiency. Insulin treatment, however, has been accused of the worst crimes, including that of fostering obesity, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and, lately, cancer. Are these charges real? Does insulin treatment truly carry in its nature the original sin of causing such terrible consequences? This unresolvable, past and present dispute has had important effects on our clinical behavior in insulin initiation in the management of Type 2 diabetes, and we all hoped that a specifically designed trial could help us on this controversy. The ORIGIN (Outcome Reduction with an Initial Glargine Intervention) trial aimed to establish whether an initial insulin treatment with glargine, as compared with standard treatments, was able to delay the onset of cardiovascular disease. Although the trial appeared negative, several viewpoints came out, alimenting the debate on how to analyze results from the ORIGIN trial and, ultimately, on the role of early insulin treatment in type 2 diabetes. In these pages we invited two experienced scientists to freely argument their interpretation of the trial, aiming to help our understanding of the consequences of the ORIGIN trial on insulin therapy.

Effect of long acting insulin supplementation on diabetic nephropathy in Wistar rats

This study was designed to check whether insulin supplementation is crucial for inducing diabetic nephropathy (DNP) in Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The urinary biochemical parameters such as albumin, creatinine and urea nitrogen were monitored every two weeks. The histological changes in the kidney were observed at the end of both fifth and seventh month. Immunohistochemical analyses of VEGF, ERK-1 and NF-kappaB expression were performed to demonstrate mesangial expansion and glomerulosclerosis, which are the defining histological features of nephropathy. A significant change in the urinary biochemistry was observed in diabetic animals at the end of four months, but the aforementioned quantitative changes were delayed in diabetic animals treated with insulin. At the end of seven months, the diabetic animals showed prominent histological changes such as glomerular basement membrane thickening, nodular glomerulosclerosis and mesangial expansion. However, these changes were not observed in diabetic animals treated with insulin even at the end of the study. From the results, it can be concluded that there is no need of insulin supplementation for inducing DNP, when the animals are induced with an optimal dose of 45 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin.

Plasma exposure to insulin glargine and its metabolites M1 and M2 after subcutaneous injection of therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of glargine in subjects with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

In vivo, after subcutaneous injection, insulin glargine (21(A)-Gly-31(B)-Arg-32(B)-Arg-human insulin) is enzymatically processed into 21(A)-Gly-human insulin (metabolite 1 [M1]). 21(A)-Gly-des-30(B)-Thr-human insulin (metabolite 2 [M2]) is also found. In vitro, glargine exhibits slightly higher affinity, whereas M1 and M2 exhibit lower affinity for IGF-1 receptor, as well as mitogenic properties, versus human insulin. The aim of the study was to quantitate plasma concentrations of glargine, M1, and M2 after subcutaneous injection of glargine in male type 1 diabetic subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Glargine, M1, and M2 were determined in blood samples obtained from 12, 11, and 11 type 1 diabetic subjects who received single subcutaneous doses of 0.3, 0.6, or 1.2 units · kg(-1) glargine in a euglycemic clamp study. Glargine, M1, and M2 were extracted using immunoaffinity columns and quantified by a specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. Lower limit of quantification was 0.2 ng · mL(-1) (33 pmol · L(-1)) per analyte.

RESULTS

Plasma M1 concentration increased with increasing dose; geometric mean (percent coefficient of variation) M1-area under the curve between time of dosing and 30 h after dosing (AUC(0-30h)) was 1,261 (66), 2,867 (35), and 4,693 (22) pmol · h · L(-1) at doses of 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 units · kg(-1), respectively, and correlated with metabolic effect assessed as pharmacodynamics-AUC(0-30h) of the glucose infusion rate following glargine administration (r = 0.74; P < 0.01). Glargine and M2 were detectable in only one-third of subjects and at a few time points.

CONCLUSIONS

After subcutaneous injection of glargine in male subjects with type 1 diabetes, exposure to glargine is marginal, if any, even at supratherapeutic doses. Glargine is rapidly and nearly completely processed to M1 (21(A)-Gly-human insulin), which mediates the metabolic effect of injected glargine.

Effects of insulin detemir on balloon catheter injured carotid artery in Zucker fatty rats

OBJECTIVE

We compared the effect of the long acting basal insulin analog detemir with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, and normal saline on recovery from vascular injury (balloon catheter mediated) in an animal model of insulin resistance.

METHODS

Female Zucker fatty rats were administered NPH/detemir/saline for 7 days following which, they underwent balloon catheter mediated injury of left carotid artery, and were continued on the respective regimen for an additional 21 days when they were sacrificed. We evaluated the injured carotid artery for intimal hyperplasia (Intima/Media ratio) and also, aortic arch protein for markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, in addition to expression and phosphorylation of eNOS using well established methods.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in intimal hyperplasia (Intima/Media ratio) between control and detemir treated rats (1.3±0.09, 0.82±0.08; p<0.001) whereas the IM ratio in NPH treated rats was not significantly different from saline (1.17±0.1). Expression of p-eNOS (ser-1177) in both NPH and insulin detemir (1.3±0.15, 1.11±0.12) was significantly higher than controls (0.56±0.13; p<0.05). We did not find significant differences in the expression of MnSOD, eNOS and NFκB-p65.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that in insulin resistant states, treatment with Insulin detemir but not NPH is associated with less intimal hyperplasia, although both insulins increased eNOS phosphorylation.

Strict glycaemic control improves skin microcirculation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a report from the Diabetes mellitus And Diastolic Dysfunction (DADD) study

BACKGROUND

Microcirculatory and endothelial dysfunction are signs of cardiovascular engagement in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study tested whether glucose normalisation may reverse this.

METHODS

Thirty-nine T2DM patients (age 61±7 years, 58% females) with signs of mild diastolic dysfunction were randomised to strict glucose control based on insulin (I-group; n=21) or oral agents (O-group; n=18) for four months. Skin microcirculation was studied with laser Doppler fluxmetry and endothelial function with brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation.

RESULTS

Glucose control improved (reduction of HbA(1c) I-group = -0.5%; O-group -0.7%; p=0.69). Microcirculation improved in the entire group (n=39) determined by foot laser Doppler fluxmetry (32.2±13.6 vs. 35.3±13.1 perfusion units; p<0.001) and laser Doppler fluxmetry following heating (68.8±34.0 vs. 69.3±25.1 PU; p=0.007). Improvement was more consistent with oral agents than insulin. Endothelial function expressed as flow-mediated dilatation decreased in the I-group (6.0±2.2 to 4.7±3.0%; p=0.037) but remained unchanged in the O-group (4.8±2.3 to 5.0±3.7%; n.s.).

CONCLUSIONS

Glycaemic normalisation improved skin microcirculation but not endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes with mild cardiovascular engagement.

Insulin detemir enhances proglucagon gene expression in the intestinal L cells via stimulating β-catenin and CREB activities

Insulin therapy using insulin detemir (d-INS) has demonstrated weight-sparing effects compared with other insulin formulations. Mechanisms underlying these effects, however, remain largely unknown. Here we postulate that the intestinal tissues' selective preference allows d-INS to exert enhanced action on proglucagon (Gcg) expression and the production of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, an incretin hormone possessing both glycemia-lowering and weight loss effects. To test this hypothesis, we used obese type 2 diabetic db/db mice and conducted a 14-day intervention with daily injection of a therapeutic dose of d-INS or human insulin (h-INS) in these mice. The body weight of the mice after 14-day daily injection of d-INS (5 IU/kg) was decreased significantly compared with those injected with the same dose of h-INS or saline. The weight-sparing effect of d-INS was associated with significantly elevated circulating levels of total GLP-1 and reduced food intake. Histochemistry analysis demonstrated that d-INS induced rapid phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) in the gut L cells of normal mice. Western blotting showed that d-INS stimulated Akt activation in a more rapid and enhanced fashion in the mouse distal ileum compared with those by h-INS. In vitro investigation in primary fetal rat intestinal cell (FRIC) cultures showed that d-INS increased Gcg mRNA expression as determined by Northern blotting and real-time RT-PCR. Consistent with these in vivo investigations, d-INS significantly increased GLP-1 secretion in FRIC cultures. Consistently, d-INS was also shown to induce rapid phosphorylation of Akt in the clonal gut cell line GLUTag. Furthermore, d-INS increased β-catenin phosphorylation, its nuclear translocation, and enhanced cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-sensitive manner. We suggest that the weight-sparing benefit of d-INS in mice is related to its intestinal tissues preference that leads to profound stimulation of Gcg expression and enhanced GLP-1 secretion in intestinal L cells, potentially involving the activation of insulin/β-catenin/CREB signaling pathways.

A study comparing insulin lispro mix 25 with glargine plus lispro therapy in patients with Type 2 diabetes who have inadequate glycaemic control on oral anti-hyperglycaemic medication: results of the PARADIGM study

AIMS

To test the hypothesis that initiation and intensification with 25% insulin lispro, 75% insulin lispro protamine suspension (LM25), is non-inferior to initiation and intensification with glargine + insulin lispro therapy on change from baseline in HbA(1c).

METHODS

In this randomized, non-inferiority (margin of 0.4%), parallel, prospective, multi-country, 48-week, open-label study, patients (n = 426) with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with oral anti-hyperglycaemic medications were assigned to either initiating therapy with one daily LM25 injection, progressing up to three daily injections (full analysis set n = 211; per protocol set n = 177) or initiating therapy with one daily glargine injection and progressing up to three daily insulin lispro injections (full analysis set n = 212; per protocol set n = 184).

RESULTS

LM25 therapy was found to be non-inferior to glargine + insulin lispro therapy by study end (upper limit of 95% CI < 0.4), with a least-squares mean difference (95% CI) in HbA(1c) (LM25 minus glargine + insulin lispro) of -0.4 mmol/mol (95% CI -2.7 to 1.9); -0.04% (95% CI -0.25 to 0.17). No statistically significant differences between treatment groups were found in the percentage of patients achieving HbA(1c) targets or postprandial blood glucose levels. The increase in insulin dose, number of injections and weight change during the course of the study were similar in both groups. Patients in both groups experienced similar hypoglycaemia rates and safety profile.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with oral anti-hyperglycaemic medications, glycaemic control when initiating and intensifying with LM25 therapy was found to be non-inferior to treatment with glargine + insulin lispro therapy.

Subcutaneous administration of glargine to diabetic patients receiving insulin infusion prevents rebound hyperglycemia

CONTEXT

Transition of diabetic patients from iv insulin infusion to s.c. insulin frequently results in rebound hyperglycemia.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that initiation of a long-acting insulin therapy concurrently with i.v. insulin infusion would decrease the rate of rebound hyperglycemia after discontinuation of the insulin infusion.

DESIGN AND INTERVENTION

Sixty-one diabetic patients receiving i.v. insulin therapy participated in this prospective randomized study. Subjects in the intervention group received daily injections of glargine s.c. (0.25 U/kg body weight) starting within 12 h of initiation of i.v. insulin infusion. Capillary blood glucose measurements were obtained up to 12 h after discontinuation of insulin infusion. Rebound hyperglycemia was defined as a blood glucose level greater than 180 mg/dl.

SETTING

The study was conducted at the University of Colorado Hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixty-one hospitalized patients with known type 1 or type 2 diabetes receiving i.v. insulin infusion participated in the study.

MAIN OUTCOME

The primary outcome of this study was to compare the rates of rebound hyperglycemia between the control and the intervention groups after i.v. insulin infusion is discontinued.

RESULTS

Overall, 29 subjects in the control group (93.5%) had at least one glucose value above 180 mg/dl during the 12-h follow-up period. This was significantly greater than the rate of rebound hyperglycemia in the intervention group (10 subjects or 33.3%, P < 0.001). The effect of the intervention was apparent in subjects who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis, after solid organ transplantation, and in patients with other surgical and medical diagnoses. There were three hypoglycemic measurements in two control subjects (68, 62, and 58 mg/dl) and none in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

Once-daily s.c. insulin glargine administered during i.v. insulin infusion is a safe method for preventing future rebound hyperglycemia, without increased risk of hypoglycemia.

[Management of blood glucose during enteral nutrition in critical patients]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate an effective and safe protocol for enteral nutrition (EN) patients permitting successfully transmit insulin administration from venous pump-in to subcutaneous injection.

METHODS

A prospective randomized control study was conducted. Critical patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Beijing Tongren Hospital from September 2008 to February 2009 were randomly divided into two groups when the energy provided by EN up to half of the total energy requirement. Experiment group (n=44): the protocol was applied for insulin glargine and regular insulin injection; control group (n=43): protocol was applied for subcutaneous regular insulin injection. Target glucose range was 4.4-7.8 mmol/L (80-140 mg/dl). If blood glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L was maintained twicely, the approach of insulin administration would convert from subcutaneous injection to venous pump-in using the computerized glucose control protocol. If the infusion rate of insulin was less than 3 U/h and lasted more than 6 hours, blood glucose ≤7.8 mmol/L, insulin administration was switched to subcutaneous injection again. The general information and all glucose regulation data were recorded for analysis.

RESULTS

The two groups did not differ at baseline for the general information, mean blood glucose and the glucose variation. A total of 1689 blood glucose records were analyzed. The mean blood glucose in experiment group, and was significantly lower than that in control group(7.58±1.17 mmol/L vs. 9.40±1.74 mmol/L, P<0.05). The rate of glucose values within target range in experiment group was significantly higher than that in control group [49.72% (534/1074) vs. 35.61% (219/615), P<0.01]. The glucose standard deviation (SD) in experiment group was significantly lower than that in control group (1.89±0.52 mmol/L vs. 2.17±0.94 mmol/L, P<0.05). The number of measurements needed per patient per day was significantly reduced in experiment group compared with control group (7.51±1.31 vs. 8.15±0.97, P<0.05). The ratio of patients converted to venous pump-in was significantly decreased in experiment group compared with control group (9.09% vs. 44.19%, P<0.01). Hypoglycemia (≤3.3 mmol/L) did not different between experiment group and control group [0.74% (8/1074) vs. 0.49% (3/615), P=0.75].

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the conventional subcutaneous insulin injection protocol, this protocol with insulin glargine combined regular insulin subcutaneous injection can control the glucose level effectively during EN in critical patients. The glucose variation and the numbers of measurements were significantly reduced by this protocol. It is helpful for the insulin transmission from venous pump-in to subcutaneous injection.

Basal insulin and cardiovascular and other outcomes in dysglycemia

BACKGROUND

The provision of sufficient basal insulin to normalize fasting plasma glucose levels may reduce cardiovascular events, but such a possibility has not been formally tested.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 12,537 people (mean age, 63.5 years) with cardiovascular risk factors plus impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or type 2 diabetes to receive insulin glargine (with a target fasting blood glucose level of ≤95 mg per deciliter [5.3 mmol per liter]) or standard care and to receive n-3 fatty acids or placebo with the use of a 2-by-2 factorial design. The results of the comparison between insulin glargine and standard care are reported here. The coprimary outcomes were nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes and these events plus revascularization or hospitalization for heart failure. Microvascular outcomes, incident diabetes, hypoglycemia, weight, and cancers were also compared between groups.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 6.2 years (interquartile range, 5.8 to 6.7). Rates of incident cardiovascular outcomes were similar in the insulin-glargine and standard-care groups: 2.94 and 2.85 per 100 person-years, respectively, for the first coprimary outcome (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94 to 1.11; P=0.63) and 5.52 and 5.28 per 100 person-years, respectively, for the second coprimary outcome (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.11; P=0.27). New diabetes was diagnosed approximately 3 months after therapy was stopped among 30% versus 35% of 1456 participants without baseline diabetes (odds ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.00; P=0.05). Rates of severe hypoglycemia were 1.00 versus 0.31 per 100 person-years. Median weight increased by 1.6 kg in the insulin-glargine group and fell by 0.5 kg in the standard-care group. There was no significant difference in cancers (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.13; P=0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

When used to target normal fasting plasma glucose levels for more than 6 years, insulin glargine had a neutral effect on cardiovascular outcomes and cancers. Although it reduced new-onset diabetes, insulin glargine also increased hypoglycemia and modestly increased weight. (Funded by Sanofi; ORIGIN ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00069784.).

n-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with dysglycemia

BACKGROUND

The use of n-3 fatty acids may prevent cardiovascular events in patients with recent myocardial infarction or heart failure. Their effects in patients with (or at risk for) type 2 diabetes mellitus are unknown.

METHODS

In this double-blind study with a 2-by-2 factorial design, we randomly assigned 12,536 patients who were at high risk for cardiovascular events and had impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or diabetes to receive a 1-g capsule containing at least 900 mg (90% or more) of ethyl esters of n-3 fatty acids or placebo daily and to receive either insulin glargine or standard care. The primary outcome was death from cardiovascular causes. The results of the comparison between n-3 fatty acids and placebo are reported here.

RESULTS

During a median follow up of 6.2 years, the incidence of the primary outcome was not significantly decreased among patients receiving n-3 fatty acids, as compared with those receiving placebo (574 patients [9.1%] vs. 581 patients [9.3%]; hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.10; P=0.72). The use of n-3 fatty acids also had no significant effect on the rates of major vascular events (1034 patients [16.5%] vs. 1017 patients [16.3%]; hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.10; P=0.81), death from any cause (951 [15.1%] vs. 964 [15.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.07; P=0.63), or death from arrhythmia (288 [4.6%] vs. 259 [4.1%]; hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.30; P=0.26). Triglyceride levels were reduced by 14.5 mg per deciliter (0.16 mmol per liter) more among patients receiving n-3 fatty acids than among those receiving placebo (P<0.001), without a significant effect on other lipids. Adverse effects were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily supplementation with 1 g of n-3 fatty acids did not reduce the rate of cardiovascular events in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events. (Funded by Sanofi; ORIGIN ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00069784.).

Contemporary rates of severe hypoglycaemia in youth with type 1 diabetes: variability by insulin regimen

AIMS

To determine incidence rates of severe hypoglycaemia and compare incidence rates by insulin regimen in a diverse sample of youth with Type 1 diabetes from two sites.

METHODS

In this observational study, 255 youth (51% female) aged 9-15 years receiving varied insulin regimens provided data prospectively for a median of 1.2 years. Reported episodes of severe hypoglycaemia, defined as episodes requiring help from another person for oral treatment or episodes resulting in seizure/coma, and current insulin regimens were collected systematically. Incidence rates were calculated and compared according to insulin regimen in bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

At first encounter, participants had a median age of 12.2 years (range 9.0-15.0), median diabetes duration of 4.4 years (range 1.0-13.0) and mean HbA(1c) of 67 ± 12 mmol/mol (8.3 ± 1.1%). The incidence rate was 37.6/100 patient-years for all severe hypoglycaemia and 9.6/100 patient-years for seizure/coma. The incidence rate for severe hypoglycaemia was 31.8/100 patient-years on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (pump therapy), 34.4/100 patient-years on basal-bolus injections and 46.1/100 patient-years on NPH (NPH vs. pump therapy: P = 0.04). The incidence rate for seizure/coma was 4.5/100 patient-years on pump therapy, 11.1/100 patient-years on basal-bolus injections and 14.4/100 patients-years on NPH (NPH vs. pump therapy: P = 0.004). In the multivariate analysis, the rate of seizure/coma was significantly higher for those on NPH vs. pump therapy (rate ratio 2.9, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of severe hypoglycaemia in youth with Type 1 diabetes remain high. Pump therapy was associated with lower rates of all severe hypoglycaemia and seizure/coma in comparison with NPH.

Metabolic outcomes of matched patient populations initiating exenatide BID vs. insulin glargine in an ambulatory care setting

AIM

This observational study evaluated the clinical effectiveness of exenatide BID (exenatide) vs. insulin glargine (glargine) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in ambulatory clinical practice.

METHODS

Retrospective analyses were conducted using an electronic medical record (EMR) database among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus initiating exenatide or glargine between 1 November 2006 and 30 April 2009. The cohorts were propensity-score matched to control baseline demographics, clinical measures, health status and medication use. The changes from baseline to a 12-month follow-up period for A1C (primary outcome), weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and lipid levels were compared between the matched cohorts using paired tests.

RESULTS

Propensity-score matching between the exenatide (n = 4494) and glargine (n = 5424) cohorts led to 2683 matched pairs with comparable characteristics, including age, gender and baseline clinical values. The exenatide cohort achieved a greater mean reduction in A1C (-0.6% vs. -0.4%, p < 0.01), weight (-2.6 kg vs. -0.2 kg, p < 0.01), BMI (-0.8 kg/m(2) vs. -0.04 kg/m(2) , p < 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (-1.8 mmHg vs. -0.1 mmHg, p < 0.01) in the follow-up period. The changes in diastolic blood pressure and lipid levels were not significantly different between cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to glargine, exenatide-treated patients experienced significant reductions in A1C, weight, BMI and SBP. Acknowledging the limitations of observational research, exenatide showed greater clinical effectiveness than glargine from a large EMR database in the ambulatory care setting.

Effects on post-prandial glucose and AGE precursors from two initial insulin strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes uncontrolled by oral agents

OBJECTIVE

Progressive β-cell dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes results in the need for insulin therapy in many patients. Yet the best regimen to prescribe to patients transitioning from oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs (OADs) is not clear. We sought to compare the effects of two standard initial insulin strategies (basal insulin alone versus premixed insulin) on post-prandial glucose metabolism and precursors of advanced glycation end-products in patients with type 2 diabetes suboptimally controlled on OADs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a 6-month, open-label, single-center study using a cross-over design. 14 subjects were randomized to one of two protocols: once daily insulin glargine or twice-daily 75%/25% neutral protamine lispro/lispro mix. At 12 weeks, the subjects were crossed-over to the opposite protocol. During each period, insulin doses were titrated to target fasting blood glucose of 90-110 mg/dL. At baseline and after the two 12-week treatment periods, subjects were studied in the Clinical Research Center; they consumed three liquid mixed isocaloric meals at 4-h intervals, and glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), lipids, and α-dicarbonyls (3-deoxyglucosone [3-DG] and methylglyoxal [MG]) were measured before and after each meal. Patient data were analyzed in the context of their assigned insulin strategy groups.

RESULT

Both insulin regimens led to a significant improvement in glycemic profiles, including fasting glucose and HbA1c, compared to baseline. However, mean post-prandial glucose was lower with lispro mix than with glargine (153 ± 36 vs. 199 ± 49 mg/dL, respectively; P=0.001). Likewise, there was a reduction in both fasting (48 ± 13 vs. 57 ± 19, P=0.047) and post-prandial (53 ± 19 vs. 63 ± 23; P=0.007) 3DG levels with lispro mix as compared to glargine. No differences were noted in MG concentrations.

CONCLUSION

In type 2 diabetes patients failing OAD therapy, an initial insulin regimen of twice daily premixed insulin results in significantly improved post-prandial glucose levels as well as a reduction in a precursor of AGEs. The effect of these two initial insulin regimens on long-term diabetic complications requires further study.