The utility of insulin glargine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To compare hemoglobin A1c (A1C) values at baseline with those after 1 year of insulin glargine therapy and, secondarily, to compare insulin dosage and patients' body weight at baseline and at 1 year.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Private endocrinology practice.


METHODS
One hundred ninety-seven patients with diabetes mellitus who were first prescribed insulin glargine from May 2001-April 2002 and were evaluable after 1 year of therapy


METHODS
Patients received insulin glargine instead of NPH insulin or in addition to their oral drug therapy


RESULTS
Patients with diabetes type 1 (receiving insulin therapy) or type 2 (receiving oral drug therapy only, a combination of oral drug therapy and insulin, or insulin only) who had been treated with insulin glargine for 1 year were evaluated. Overall, A1C values decreased significantly (p<0.001) by 0.53 +/- 1.4% from a baseline mean of 8.1 +/- 1.7%. In 129 patients with type 2 diabetes previously treated with NPH insulin, A1C decreased significantly (p<0.001) 0.57 +/- 1.5% from baseline. The A1C decreased by 0.71 +/- 1.3% (p=0.0043) from baseline in 33 patients with type 2 diabetes who previously received oral agents only Thirty-five patients with type 1 diabetes demonstrated no significant change in A1C (-0.22 +/- 1.0%, p=0.217) from baseline. In patients receiving insulin at baseline, the number of daily injections increased significantly (p<0.0001) from a median of two at baseline to three at 1 year. Overall, no significant change was noted in total daily insulin requirement or in body weight in any of the patient groups over the 1-year period.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with baseline, insulin glargine therapy at 1 year was associated with an overall significant reduction in A1C of 0.53 +/- 1.4%.
Stroup
Jeffrey
J
Department of Pharmacy Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Kane
Michael P
MP
Busch
Robert S
RS
Bakst
Gary
G
Hamilton
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004704:Endocrinology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011331:Private Practice; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting