title: Insulin degludec: a novel basal insulin analogue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical trial data, adverse effects, and potential role in therapy of insulin degludec.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were identified using the MEDLINE database (January 1996-December 2012). Abstracts and posters were identified from respective congressional websites and published supplements of the American Diabetes Association, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (January 2008-December 2012). Clinicaltrials.gov was used to identify any ongoing clinical trials or completed trials whose results had not been presented or published.
  
  
  METHODS
  All available studies were reviewed for inclusion; pharmacokinetic studies were limited to those reporting human data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insulin degludec is a novel, ultra-long-acting basal insulin analogue that has a similar safety and efficacy profile when compared with insulin glargine in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials have indicated that there is less hypoglycemia, particularly nocturnal hypoglycemia, associated with this agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If insulin degludec is approved, it may offer an alternative basal insulin for patients needing more flexible dosing, having a history of nocturnal hypoglycemia, or those with severe insulin resistance needing a higher concentration of basal insulin.
authors: School of Pharmacy-Boston, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA. jennifer.goldman-levine@mcphs.edu
authors: Jennifer D
authors: JD
authors: Goldman-Levine
authors: Dhiren K
authors: DK
authors: Patel
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Schnee
mesh_terms: D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; C578220:insulin degludec, insulin aspart drug combination; C571886:insulin degludec