Starting insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes: twice-daily biphasic insulin Aspart 30 plus metformin versus once-daily insulin glargine plus glimepiride.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and safety of two analog insulins as starting regimens in insulin-naïve Type 2 diabetes patients.


METHODS
In this randomized, open-label parallel study, twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30 (30% soluble and 70% protaminated insulin aspart; BIAsp 30) plus metformin (met) was compared with once-daily insulin glargine (glarg) plus glimepiride (glim) in 255 insulin-naïve patients (131 male; mean+/-SD age, 61.2+/-9.1 years). Mean baseline HbA (1c) (+/-SD) was 9.2+/-1.4% and 8.9+/-1.3% for BIAsp 30 plus met ( N=128) and glarg plus glim ( N=127), respectively ( P=0.0747). Primary endpoint was the difference in absolute change in HbA (1c) between groups after 26 weeks of treatment.


RESULTS
HbA (1c) change was significantly greater in the BIAsp 30 plus met group than the glarg plus glim group (between-group difference: -0.5% (95% CI: -0.8; -0.2); P=0.0002). Mean prandial plasma glucose increment was significantly lower for BIAsp 30 plus met compared with glarg plus glim: 1.4+/-1.4 mmol/l vs. 2.2+/-1.8 mmol/l; P=0.0002. During the maintenance phase (weeks 6-26), one major hypoglycemic episode occurred in each group; 20.3% and 9% of patients experienced minor hypoglycemic episodes in the BIAsp 30 plus met and glarg plus glim groups, respectively ( P=0.0124). At end-of-trial, mean daily insulin doses were 0.40 U/kg BIAsp 30 and 0.39 U/kg glarg. Glarg plus glim-treated patients experienced significant weight gain of 1.5 kg (95% CI: 0.84; 2.19; P<0.0001). Weight change with BIAsp 30 plus met of +0.7 kg was not statistically significant (95% CI: -0.07; 1.42; P=0.0762).


CONCLUSIONS
Starting insulin in Type 2 diabetes patients with twice-daily BIAsp 30 plus met can reduce HbA (1c) and mean prandial plasma glucose increment to a greater extent than once-daily glarg plus glim.
Kann
P H
PH
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Bereich Endokrinologie and Diabetologie, Marburg, Germany. kannp@med.uni-marburg.de
Wascher
T
T
Zackova
V
V
Moeller
J
J
Medding
J
J
Szocs
A
A
Mokan
M
M
Mrevlje
F
F
Regulski
M
M
D000368:Aged; D061265:Biphasic Insulins; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D061267:Insulin Aspart; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D007336:Insulin, Isophane; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D061265:Biphasic Insulins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D061267:Insulin Aspart; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D007336:Insulin, Isophane; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008687:Metformin; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; C557564:insulin aspart, insulin aspart protamine drug combination 30:70; C057619:glimepiride