title: Effectiveness and safety of insulin glargine in the therapy of complicated or secondary diabetes: clinical audit.
abstract: We wanted to assess the effectiveness and safety of glargine in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in secondary failure and/or with severe comorbidities ("T2DM group"), and patients with secondary diabetes after corticosteroid and/or anticancer treatment ("secondary DM group"). We reviewed the records of patients on glargine from 1 August 2004 to 30 July 2005. The after-minus-before change in HbA1c was the main outcome measure. At baseline, the 18 "T2DM" patients had a mean (+/-SD) age of 66.7+/-9.5 years and a diabetes duration of 13.6+/-10.3 years; 52.9% were male. Their fasting plasma glucose (FPG) decreased from 228.6+/-76.6 to 134.6+/-37.5, two-hour post-prandial glycaemia (2hPPG) from 268.2+/-10.4 to 140.6+/-30.8 and HbA1c from 10.4+/-2.3 to 7.9+/-1.6%. Mean daily insulin dosage was 12.0+/-4.8 UI for glargine alone and 37.4+/-22.6 UI for basal-bolus scheme. The daily cost was Euro 0.75 (range Euro 0.31-1.15). The 24 "secondary DM" patients had a mean age of 67.0+/-11.0 years and a diabetes duration of 3.7+/-6.5 years; 54.2% were male and 91.7% had a metastatic cancer. Their FPG decreased from 222.3+/-108.6 to 121.5+/-28.7 mg/dl, 2hPPG from 259.4+/-108.6 to 133.0+/-35.0 mg/dl and HbA1c from 10.1+/-2.5 to 7.6+/-1.3%. Mean daily insulin dosage was 12.5+/-6.1 UI for glargine alone and 27.2+/-9.1 UI for basal-bolus scheme. Mean daily cost was Euro 0.70 (range Euro 0.31-1.38). One (4.2%) cancer patient withdrew from glargine because of nausea. Nine (37.5%) cancer patients had an increase in appetite after glargine therapy, including 3 end-of-life patients. No severe hypoglycaemia occurred. Insulin glargine was safe and effective in improving glycaemic control both in severe "T2DM" and in "secondary DM" patients.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Ramazzini Hospital, Carpi, Modena, Italy. a.ciardullo@ausl.mo.it
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ciardullo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacchelli
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Daghio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carapezzi
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting