Effect of sulfonylureas on switching to insulin therapy (twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30): comparison of twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30 with or without glimepiride in type 2 diabetic patients poorly controlled with sub-maximal glimepiride

Multifactorial intervention for diabetes control among older users of insulin

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if the closer follow-up with the supply of insulin pens and the measurement of capillary blood glucose improve the management of older patients with type 2 diabetes without adequate glycemic control despite extensive therapy.

METHODS

This is a prospective, non-randomized, quasi-experimental study. We have included 45 patients over 60 years old, from both sexes, with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 8.5% using oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin. The intervention consisted of monthly medical visits, with the provision of insulin pens and strips for blood glucose measurement. All patients received insulin pen, refills of Neutral Protamine Hagedorn and regular insulin, needles for the pen, blood glucose meter, and capillary blood glucose tests (three tests/day). Treatment was adjusted with the same endocrinologist monthly for six months. Glycated hemoglobin was measured at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks after intervention.

RESULTS

Glycated hemoglobin at baseline was 10.34% (SE = 0.22%) and 8.54% (SE = 0.24%, p < 0.001) and 8.09% (SE = 0.21%, p < 0.001) at 12 and 24 weeks after intervention, respectively, with a significant reduction from baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

More frequent medical visits, with treatment inputs including the use of insulin pens and self-monitoring, have improved glycemic control (reduction of 2.25% in HbA1C, on average, at 24 weeks of follow-up). Our data support a change in the management and medical behavior of older patients with chronically decompensated diabetes.

Efficacy and safety of premixed insulin analogs in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

The primary aim of this systematic review was to provide an overview of the efficacy and safety of premixed insulin analogs in Asians, specifically East Asians, with type 2 diabetes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from 1 January 1995 to 26 November 2015. Randomized controlled trials involving East Asians with type 2 diabetes treated with any premixed insulin analog were included. Major comparator treatments were basal insulin and basal-bolus insulin. Comparisons were also made between East Asian and Caucasian patients. The primary efficacy outcome was glycated hemoglobin change from baseline to end-point. The primary safety outcome was the incidence of hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included; most (n = 14) were carried out in China or Japan. The duration of treatment ranged from 12 to 48 weeks. The glycated hemoglobin mean/least squares mean change from baseline to end-point after treatment with premixed insulin analogs ranged from -0.12 to -4.2% (improvement was generally more pronounced with insulin initiation vs intensification). The incidence of hypoglycemia ranged from 8.3 to 72.0% in most studies, with the variability reflecting the definition of hypoglycemia used. Efficacy and safety outcomes for premixed insulin analogs were generally similar to those for basal or basal-bolus insulin. Limited evidence suggests that dosing, efficacy and safety profiles might differ slightly between East Asian and Caucasians receiving premixed insulin analogs.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the current use of premixed insulin analogs for managing East Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Efficacy and safety of biphasic insulin aspart 30/70 in type 2 diabetes suboptimally controlled on oral antidiabetic therapy in Korea: a multicenter, open-label, single-arm study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), side effects, and quality of life (QOL) after a 16-week treatment period with Biphasic insulin aspart 30/70 (BIasp30) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had been suboptimally controlled with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs).

METHODS

The study consisted of a 4-week titration period when concurrent OAD(s) were replaced with BIasp30 and followed by a 12-week maintenance period. All patients completed the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the trial. Hypoglycemic episodes were recorded by the patient throughout the trial.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were included, of whom 55 patients (92%) completed the full 16-week treatment period. Seven-point blood glucose was significantly improved as compared with the baseline, except for the postlunch blood glucose level. HbA1c at the end of period was significantly improved from 9.2% to 8.2% (P<0.001). Eleven percent (n=6) of patients achieved HbA1c values ≤6.5% and 22% (n=12) of patients achieved <7.0%. There were 3.4 episodes/patients-year of minor hypoglycemia and 0.05 episodes/patients-year of major hypoglycemia. QOL showed significant changes only in the acceptability of high blood glucose category (P=0.003).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with once or twice daily BIasp30 may be an option for the patients with T2DM suboptimally controlled with OADs in Korea. However, considering the low number of patients achieving the HbA1c target and the high postlunch blood glucose levels, additional management with another modality may be required for optimal control.

Ten years of experience with biphasic insulin aspart 30: from drug development to the latest clinical findings

Biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) includes 30% soluble rapid-acting insulin aspart (IAsp) along with an intermediate-acting 70% protaminated IAsp that provides coverage of prandial and basal insulin in a single injection. As BIAsp 30 has been available internationally for 10 years, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the discovery of BIAsp 30, its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, safety and efficacy outcomes from the clinical trial programme, 'real-life' clinical insights provided by observational study data, and cost effectiveness and quality-of-life information. These studies have demonstrated that BIAsp 30 once or twice daily is an appropriate option for insulin initiation. BIAsp 30 also provides a switch option in patients on biphasic human insulin (BHI). Switching from BHI to BIAsp 30 is associated with improved postprandial glucose (PPG) and reduced nocturnal and major hypoglycaemia, although daytime hypoglycaemia is higher with BIAsp 30. Intensification of BIAsp 30 can be achieved by increasing the number of daily doses up to three times daily with meals. Therefore, BIAsp 30 provides an intensification option for individuals who are not achieving control with basal insulin and would prefer the simplicity of a single biphasic insulin instead of progressing to a basal-bolus approach. BIAsp 30 has a simple dose-titration algorithm, which enables patients to effectively self-titrate their insulin dose. Cost-effectiveness analyses have demonstrated that BIAsp 30 is cost effective or dominant compared with BHI 30 or insulin glargine in a number of healthcare settings. In conclusion, BIAsp 30 offers a simple and flexible option for insulin initiation and intensification that provides coverage of both fasting and prandial glucose.

Comparison of thrice-daily lispro 50/50 vs thrice-daily lispro in combination with sulfonylurea as initial insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes

Aims/Introduction:  Basal-bolus intensive insulin therapy has been believed to achieve best the glycemic control, but is also complicated as a result of the number of injections required and the type of insulin. This study compared the effect of thrice-daily lispro 50/50 (prandial premixed therapy [PPT]) with thrice daily lispro given in combination with sulfonylureas (prandial bolus therapy with sulfonylurea [PBTS]) as initial insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

  This 24-week, observational, parallel trial comprised a 12-week screening period and a 24-week intervention period for 31 diabetes patients who were poorly controlled with submaximal sulfonylurea. At the start of the intervention period, we commenced thrice-daily insulin injections and divided the 31 patients into either lispro 50/50 with discontinuation of sulfonylurea (PPT, n = 15) or lispro added to sulfonylurea (PBTS, n = 16). The same dose-adjustment algorithm was used for analyzing both groups; HbA1c, plasma glucose, insulin daily dose, bodyweight and number of hypoglycemic episodes were evaluated.

RESULTS

  At the end of the study, HbA1c was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.00001), but no difference was apparent between the groups. The daily doses of PPT were more than those of PBTS, albeit the difference was statistically insignificant (P = 0.051). There were significantly fewer hypoglycemic episodes encountered with PPT than with PBTS.

CONCLUSIONS

  Thrice-daily injections of lispro 50/50 provide an effective and safe regimen as initial insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2010.00025.x, 2010).