Advancing insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes previously treated with glargine plus oral agents: prandial premixed (insulin lispro protamine suspension/lispro) versus basal/bolus (glargine/lispro) therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare two analog insulin therapies (prandial premixed therapy [PPT] versus basal/bolus therapy [BBT]) in type 2 diabetic patients previously treated with insulin glargine (>or=30 units/day) plus oral agents, with the aim of demonstrating noninferiority of PPT to BBT.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to PPT (lispro mix 50/50: 50% insulin lispro protamine suspension and 50% lispro; n = 187) t.i.d. with meals or BBT (glargine at bedtime plus mealtime lispro; n = 187) in a 24-week, multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial. Investigators could replace lispro mix 50/50 with lispro mix 75/25 at the evening meal if the fasting plasma glucose target was unachievable.


RESULTS
Baseline A1C was similar (PPT 8.8%; BBT 8.9%; P = 0.598). At week 24, A1C was lower with BBT (6.78 vs. 6.95%, P = 0.021). A1C was reduced significantly from baseline for both therapies (P < 0.0001). The difference in A1C change from baseline to the end point (BBT minus PPT) was -0.22% (90% CI -0.38 to -0.07). Noninferiority of PPT to BBT was not demonstrated based on the prespecified noninferiority margin of 0.3%. The percentages of patients achieving target A1C <7.0% (PPT versus BBT, respectively) were 54 vs. 69% (P = 0.009) and for target <or=6.5% were 35 vs. 50% (P = 0.01) but did not differ for target <or=6.0% or <7.5%. Rates of hypoglycemia were similar for both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although noninferiority of PPT to BBT was not demonstrated, findings for A1C reduction, percentage of patients achieving A1C targets, hypoglycemia, and number of required injections should be considered in the individual decision-making process of advancing insulin replacement to PPT versus BBT in type 2 diabetes.
Rosenstock
Julio
J
Dallas Diabetes and Endocrine Center at Medical City, Dallas, TX 75230, USA. juliorosenstock@dallasdiabetes.com
Ahmann
Andrew J
AJ
Colon
Gildred
G
Scism-Bacon
Jamie
J
Jiang
Honghua
H
Martin
Sherry
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D061268:Insulin Lispro; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D061268:Insulin Lispro; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting