Effect of the fast-acting insulin analog lispro on the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia during intensified insulin therapy. U.K. Lispro Study Group.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the effectiveness of insulin lispro, a fast-acting insulin analog, in reducing hypoglycemic episodes when used in a basal bolus regimen by patients with type 1 diabetes using intensive insulin therapy.


METHODS
In 11 diabetes outpatient clinics in the U.K., 165 subjects with type 1 diabetes were enrolled in a randomized crossover open-label study with a 2-month run-in period and then treated with a basal bolus regimen. Patients used human NPH insulin at night with either premeal insulin lispro for 4 months followed by human regular insulin for another 4 months or human regular insulin for 4 months followed by insulin lispro for another 4 months. The main outcome measures were the number of hypoglycemic episodes during both treatments and HbA1c level.


RESULTS
A total of 135 patients were randomized, with 68 receiving insulin lispro and 67 receiving human regular insulin for the first 4 months. The data for the first 4 months of treatment only were compared as two independent groups because of a period effect and a treatment-period interaction. Glycemic control was equally tight during treatment with human regular insulin (HbA1c, 6.2 +/- 0.8%) and insulin lispro (6.0 +/- 0.9%). A total of 1,156 hypoglycemic episodes occurred during treatment with human regular insulin compared with 775 hypoglycemic episodes that occurred during treatment with insulin lispro (P = 0.04). This difference was chiefly because of a reduced number of nocturnal episodes (181 vs. 52, P = 0.001) in the insulin lispro group.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a fast-acting insulin analog, insulin lispro, as part of a basal bolus regimen reduces nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes who maintain tight glycemic control during intensive insulin therapy.
Heller
S R
SR
Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, U.K. s.heller@sheffield.ac.uk
Amiel
S A
SA
Mansell
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061268:Insulin Lispro; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D061268:Insulin Lispro