title: Effect of premixed nph and regular insulin on glucose control and health-related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: To compare the effect of the addition of regular insulin as a premixed 70/30 insulin to the treatment regimen of patients with type 2 diabetes who had used NPH insulin alone relative to overall glycemic control (postprandial blood glucose), patient satisfaction, and health-related quality of life.
  
  
  
  We studied 90 patients with type 2 diabetes in a 10-week, randomized, double-blind, crossover trial involving 9 clinical investigators. Patients previously treated with NPH insulin alone were transferred to 30% regular insulin added to 70% NPH as a premixed insulin (70/30) administered twice daily. Patients in one sequence group received NPH insulin twice daily for 4 weeks followed by 70/30 insulin for 4 weeks; in the second sequence group, the order was reversed.
  
  
  
  The magnitude of the 1.5- and 2-hour postprandial glucose excursion was reduced with 70/30 insulin in comparison with NPH insulin, and patients treated with 70/30 insulin experienced fewer hypoglycemic events than with NPH insulin. With regard to health-related quality of life, patients treated with 70/30 insulin rated their physical functioning as better; rated their ability to be spontaneous, follow the meal plan, and interact socially to be less difficult; and had less fear of hypoglycemia and perceived their diabetes to be better controlled than when treated with NPH insulin alone.
  
  
  
  In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, premixed 70/30 insulin improved postprandial glycemic control and health-related quality of life without increasing the frequency of hypoglycemic events and without any additional cost.
authors.affiliation: Medical City Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75230, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Einhorn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allweiss
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Garber
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Huster