Addition of biphasic insulin aspart 30 to optimized metformin and pioglitazone treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: The ACTION Study (Achieving Control Through Insulin plus Oral ageNts).
OBJECTIVE
Efficacy and safety of biphasic insulin aspart (BIAsp 30, 30% short-acting and 70% intermediate-acting insulin aspart) added to an optimized treatment of metformin and pioglitazone (met/pio) were compared with treatment with optimized met/pio in type 2 diabetes patients.


METHODS
This randomized, 34-week, parallel-group study enrolled insulin-naive, type 2 diabetes patients (HbA(1c) 7.5-12.0%) previously using two oral antidiabetic (OAD) agents. During an 8-week run-in period, treatment was changed to met/pio and doses were adjusted up to 2500 mg/day and 30 or 45 mg/day respectively. Subjects either continued met/pio alone or added BIAsp 30 initiated at 6 units twice daily and titrated to target plasma glucose (PG) (4.4-6.1 mmol/l).


RESULTS
At end-of-study, subjects treated with BIAsp 30+met/pio (n = 93) had a mean (+/-s.d.) HbA(1c) reduction significantly greater than treatment with met/pio (n = 88) (1.5% +/- 1.1 vs. 0.2% +/- 0.9, p < 0.0001 between groups). Subjects treated with BIAsp 30+met/pio were more likely to reach The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and European Association for the Study of Diabetes/American Diabetes Association HbA(1c) targets of < or =6.5 and <7.0%, respectively, than with met/pio only (HbA(1c)< or =6.5%: 59 vs. 12%; HbA(1c) <7.0%: 76 vs. 24%). At end-of-study, self-monitored glucose profile values at all eight daily time points were significantly less for the BIAsp 30+met/pio group compared with the met/pio group, and minor hypoglycaemia (defined as PG < 3.1 mmol/l) was more frequent (8.3 vs. 0.1 events/year, p < 0.001). Both groups gained weight during treatment (BIAsp 30+met/pio, 4.6 +/- 4.3 kg; met/pio, 0.8 +/- 3.2 kg; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of insulin in type 2 patients treated with met/pio is an effective way to achieve glycaemic targets. Treatment with BIAsp 30+met/pio achieved significantly greater reduction in HbA(1c), as compared with met/pio alone. In patients with type 2 diabetes poorly controlled by 2 OADs, more achieved glycaemic targets using BIAsp 30+met/pio than using met/pio alone.
Raskin
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA. Philip.Raskin@UTSouthwestern.edu
Matfin
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G
Schwartz
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Chaykin
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Chu
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PL
Braceras
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Wynne
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061265:Biphasic Insulins; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061267:Insulin Aspart; D007336:Insulin, Isophane; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D061265:Biphasic Insulins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D061267:Insulin Aspart; D007336:Insulin, Isophane; D008687:Metformin; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; C557564:insulin aspart, insulin aspart protamine drug combination 30:70