Insulin lispro: experience in a private practice setting.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the benefits (or otherwise) of changing patients with unstable type 1 diabetes to insulin lispro (Humalog, Aza Research).


METHODS
150 patients with type 1 diabetes treated in a private metropolitan physician practice.


METHODS
Glycohaemoglobin (%HbA1c) value; frequency of hypoglycaemia; patients' perceptions of the two regimens.


RESULTS
125 of 150 patients completed the study; 12 (8%) withdrew because they were dissatisfied with lispro. Including these 12 patients, 80/137 patients (58%) felt better physically and 98 (72%) were more satisfied with treatment with lispro. Of the 125 patients who completed the study, 65 (52%) achieved lower HbA1c values, with 22 (18%) experiencing a fall of 1% or more; 78 patients (62%) noted less daytime hypoglycaemia and 103 (82%) experienced less nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Thirty-nine patients (31%) with less daytime hypoglycaemia and 52 (42%) with less nocturnal hypoglycaemia also experienced a fall of more than 0.2% in HbA1c value (mean, 1.0%; range, 0.3%-3.2%). There was no change in body weight or in hypoglycaemia unawareness.


CONCLUSIONS
Many patients with unstable type 1 diabetes, when changed to insulin lispro, experience significant clinical and biochemical benefits.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061268:Insulin Lispro; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome