Predictors of response to early basal insulin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes--the EARLY experience

BACKGROUND

It was the aim of this study to assess baseline predictors for glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction, treatment-to-target, and insulin glargine dose in patients with an HbA1c level of ≥ 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) at baseline despite 3 months of maximum tolerated dose of metformin under daily conditions.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This was an open, multicenter, prospective observational study with a 6-month follow-up including 1,438 patients with type 2 diabetes. Baseline variables independently associated with HbA1c (overall reduction and achievement of target values) and insulin glargine dose used were determined using a stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

In a multivariate linear regression analysis (R(2)=0.545) baseline HbA1c (β=-0.722; P<0.001) and retinopathy (β=-0.064; P=0.007) were associated with a greater HbA1c reduction at 6 months, whereas duration of diabetes was associated with a lesser HbA1c reduction (β=0.084; P<0.001). In another multivariate linear regression analysis, weight (odds ratio [OR] 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98 to <1.00), duration of diabetes (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.99), and baseline HbA1c (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.56-0.76) were associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving an HbA1c level of <7% (53 mmol/mol); baseline HbA1c (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.51-0.85) was the only variable associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving an HbA1c level of <6.5% (48 mmol/mol). In a further analysis (R(2)=0.135) the insulin dose needed was increased in those with a higher body weight (β=0.230; P<0.001), a longer duration of diabetes (β=0.134; P<0.001), a higher baseline HbA1c level (β=0.205; P<0.001), and the presence of microalbuminuria (β=0.096; P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Identified predictors of greater HbA1c reduction, target goal achievement, and insulin dose needed may help to optimize the balance of benefits and risks with the use of insulin glargine.

Treat-to-target trials: uses, interpretation and review of concepts

Treat-to-target trial designs compare investigational insulins with a standard insulin. Treat-to-target trials force-titrate insulin dosages to achieve a prespecified treatment goal. With comparable glycaemic control, comparisons of safety endpoints such as hypoglycaemia can be made to establish the risk-benefit profile of the new insulin. Glargine versus NPH showed comparable A1C reductions; however, A1C <7% without associated nocturnal hypoglycaemia was reached in more patients on glargine and overall hypoglycaemia was lower. Detemir versus glargine showed non-inferiority between the groups; however, with less weight gain and more injection site reactions with detemir. Detemir/aspart versus glargine/aspart showed non-inferiority between the treatments, however, with less weight gain in the detemir group but comparable risk of hypoglycaemia. Degludec in combination with aspart versus glargine/aspart showed comparable A1C reductions. However, degludec-treated patients had less overall hypoglycaemia and less nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Because insulin titrations are guided by goal attainment with each treatment, treat-to-target trials enable clinicians to determine differences in non-glycaemic treatment effects, such as rates of hypoglycaemia and weight gain, at the same level of glycaemic control.

Options for prandial glucose management in type 2 diabetes patients using basal insulin: addition of a short-acting GLP-1 analogue versus progression to basal-bolus therapy

Integrating patient-centered diabetes care and algorithmic medicine poses particular challenges when optimized basal insulin fails to maintain glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Multiple entwined physiological, psychosocial and systems barriers to insulin adherence are not easily studied and are not adequately considered in most treatment algorithms. Moreover, the limited number of alternatives to add-on prandial insulin therapy has hindered shared decision-making, a central feature of patient-centered care. This article considers how the addition of a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogue to basal insulin may provide new opportunities at this stage of treatment, especially for patients concerned about weight gain and risk of hypoglycaemia. A flexible framework for patient-clinician discussions is presented to encourage development of decision-support tools applicable to both specialty and primary care practice.

Weight change upon once-daily initiation of insulin detemir with or without dietary intervention in overweight or obese insulin-naïve individuals with type 2 diabetes: results from the DIET trial

AIMS

Weight gain upon insulin initiation is opposite to clinical goals in diabetes management. This trial aimed to determine the impact of modest dietary intervention on weight change and examine weight change in baseline body mass index strata when initiating once-daily insulin detemir (IDet) in overweight or obese insulin-naïve individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

DIET (Impact of Dietary Intervention on Weight Change in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes) was a 26-week, randomized, treat-to-target, stratified, controlled, open-label, multinational trial. Subjects were randomized 1 : 1 to either the IDet group, which received basic dietary and physical exercise advice at baseline, or the Diet+IDet group, which had additional dietary consultations with a certified dietician (three face-to-face meetings, three phone contacts).

RESULTS

Mean estimated change in body weight from baseline ± standard error (SE) was -1.05 ± 0.23 kg for Diet+IDet and -0.56 ± 0.23 kg for IDet alone. Estimated mean difference was 0.49 kg (95% confidence interval: -0.15; 1.13, p = 0.132). Glycaemic control, measured by haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose, improved similarly in both groups. Both groups reported variable reductions in caloric intake and overall physical activity levels. No difference in hypoglycaemia rates between groups was observed.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that a modest dietary intervention plus basic lifestyle advice, compared with basic lifestyle advice alone, resulted in similar weight change, efficacy, safety and tolerability when initiating IDet once daily in overweight or obese insulin-naïve individuals with T2D.

Once-daily prandial lixisenatide versus once-daily rapid-acting insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus insufficiently controlled with basal insulin: analysis of data from five randomized, controlled trials

AIMS

To compare the efficacy and safety of lixisenatide (LIXI), a once-daily prandial glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, as add-on to basal insulin (Basal+LIXI) versus once-daily rapid-acting insulin (Basal+RAI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Data were extracted from five randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy and safety of basal insulin+insulin glulisine (n=3) or basal insulin+LIXI (n=2). Patients in the Basal+LIXI cohort were matched to patients in the Basal+RAI cohort using propensity score matching.

RESULTS

In the matched population, Basal+LIXI was twice as likely to reach composite outcomes of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) <7% and no symptomatic hypoglycaemia compared with the Basal+RAI group (odds ratio [OR]: 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 3.55; P=0.0455), as well as HbA1c <7% and no severe hypoglycaemia (OR: 1.97; 95 CI: 1.06, 3.66; P=0.0311). Furthermore, Basal+LIXI was more than twice as likely to reach HbA1c <7%, no weight gain and no symptomatic hypoglycaemia (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.23, 5.40; P=0.0119).

CONCLUSIONS

Both basal+LIXI and Basal+RAI improved glycaemic control in patients with T2DM with inadequate glycaemic control on basal insulin. Basal+LIXI offers an effective therapeutic option to advance basal insulin therapy, improving glucose control without weight gain and with less risk of hypoglycaemia than prandial insulin.

Pharmacodynamics of the long-acting insulin analogues detemir and glargine following single-doses and under steady-state conditions in patients with type 1 diabetes

AIM

The pharmacodynamic characteristics of the basal insulin analogues insulin detemir (IDet) and insulin glargine (IGlar) have been examined extensively via euglycaemic clamp studies. However, differences in clamp methodology and in the analysis of clamp data between trials have led to confusion over the duration of action of these two insulins. The aim of this study was to address these ambiguities in the literature by assessing the pharmacodynamic properties of IDet and IGlar over 30 h under single-dose and steady-state conditions using the definitions and procedures previously standardized by Heise and Pieber in 2007.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, randomized, double-blind, glucose clamp trial involving 36 patients with type 1 diabetes.

RESULTS

The mean duration of action of IDet was 25.9 h, compared with 19.8 h for IGlar after a single-dose (NS), and 23.3 h (IDet) versus 27.1 h (IGlar) at steady-state (p < 0.0001). IDet had a significantly higher area under the curve glucose infusion rate (AUCGIR ) than IGlar over 0-12 h after a single-dose (p = 0.0018). The steady-state AUCGIR for IDet was numerically higher than IGlar over 0-12 h (728 vs. 592 mg/kg, respectively; p = NS), but significantly lower than IGlar at 12-30 h (p = 0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

The duration of action of IDet is 23 h (range: 4.0-30.0), while that of IGlar is 27 h (range: 10.5-29.0) (95% CI: -8.1, 0.6). This suggests both insulins can be used for once-daily dosing, but individual needs must be considered.

Determinants of reversibility of β-cell dysfunction in response to short-term intensive insulin therapy in patients with early type 2 diabetes

Short-term intensive insulin therapy (IIT) can improve pancreatic β-cell function when administered early in the course of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the degree of improvement in response to this therapy varies between patients. Thus, we sought to characterize the determinants of improvement in β-cell function in response to short-term IIT in early T2DM. Sixty-three patients with mean 3.0 ± 2.1 yr duration of T2DM and Hb A1c of 6.8 ± 0.8% underwent 4 wk of IIT consisting of basal insulin detemir and premeal insulin aspart, with oral glucose tolerance test administered at baseline and 1 day post-IIT. β-Cell function before and after IIT was assessed by Insulin Secretion Sensitivity Index-2 (ISSI-2). Reversibility of β-cell dysfunction was defined as percentage change in ISSI-2 of ≥25%. Overall, the study population experienced an increase in ISSI-2 from baseline to post-IIT (P = 0.01), with one-third of participants achieving ≥25% improvement in ISSI-2. Compared with their peers, those with increases in ISSI-2 of ≥25% had greater decrements in fasting glucose (P < 0.0001), Hb A1c (P = 0.001), ALT (P = 0.04), AST (P = 0.02), and HOMA-IR (P < 0.0001). On logistical regression analysis, baseline Hb A1c (OR = 2.83, 95% CI 1.16-6.88, P = 0.02) and change in HOMA-IR (OR = 0.008, 95%CI 0.0004-0.16, P = 0.001) emerged as independent predictors of reversibility of β-cell dysfunction. Indeed, reversibility of β-cell dysfunction was achieved in only those participants in whom IIT yielded an improvement in HOMA-IR. In conclusion, decline in HOMA-IR may be a key determinant of improvement of β-cell function in response to short-term IIT, suggesting a fundamental contribution of insulin resistance to the reversible component of β-cell dysfunction in early T2DM.

A comparison of insulin detemir and neutral protamine Hagedorn (isophane) insulin in the treatment of diabetes: a systematic review

The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety data of insulin detemir, and compare its use with that of neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin in randomized controlled trials in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. A literature search was conducted with PubMed using predefined search terms. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: randomized, controlled trial, comparison of insulin detemir with NPH insulin, non-hospitalized adults aged ≥18 years with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and study duration of ≥12 weeks. The following types of studies were excluded: non-randomized controlled trials, studies of mixed cohorts of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes that did not report results separately, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, reviews, pooled or meta-analyses or health-economic analyses. Fourteen publications met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies in people with type 1 diabetes and three studies in people with type 2 diabetes, using insulin detemir in a basal-bolus regimen were included. Two studies were in people with type 2 diabetes using insulin detemir with oral antidiabetes medicines. In 14 studies of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, insulin detemir treatment provided similar or better glycaemic control, lower within-subject variability, similar or lower frequency of hypoglycaemia and less weight gain when compared with NPH insulin.

A meta-analysis of clinical therapeutic effect of insulin glargine and insulin detemir for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Insulin have been recommended to decrease glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients whose blood glucose control are unsatisfactory by using oral hypoglycemic drugs.

AIM

To systematically estimate the therapeutic effect and security of insulin glargine and insulin detemir for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, EMBASE, etc databases. Quality evaluation of all randomized control tests (RCT) enrolled was conducted according to Cochrane manual, and meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan5.0 software.

RESULTS

Both insulin glargine and insulin detemir can effectively control T2DM patient's blood glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin detemir has evident superiority on reducing body weight than insulin glargine. As the doses are concerned, daily insulin dose of insulin detemir is higher than insulin glargine.

The use of insulin analogues in pregnancy

Excellent glycaemic control is essential in pregnancy to optimise maternal and foetal outcomes. The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of insulin analogues in pregnancy. Insulin lispro and insulin aspart are safe in pregnancy and may improve post-prandial glycaemic control in women with type 1 diabetes. However, a lack of data indicating improved foetal outcomes would suggest that there is no imperative to switch to a short-acting analogue where the woman's diabetes is well controlled with human insulin. There are no reports of the use of insulin glulisine in pregnancy and so its use cannot be recommended. Most studies of insulin glargine in pregnancy are small, retrospective and include women with pre-existing diabetes and gestational diabetes. There appear to be no major safety concerns and so it seems reasonable to continue insulin glargine if required to achieve excellent glycaemic control. A head-to-head comparison between insulin detemir and NPH insulin in women with type 1 diabetes showed that while foetal outcomes did not differ, fasting plasma glucose improved with insulin detemir without an increased incidence of hypoglycaemia. The greater evidence base supports the use of insulin detemir as the first line long-acting analogue in pregnancy but the lack of definitive foetal benefits means that there is no strong need to switch a woman who is well controlled on NPH insulin. There seems little justification in using long acting insulin analogues in women with gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes where the risk of hypoglycaemia is low.

[RESOLUTE Study in the Czech Republic: insulin glargine improves the compensation of type 2 diabetes in patients with unsatisfactory results of therapy with a combination of insulin detemir and oral antidiabetics. Results of the nonintervention RESOLUTE Project in the Czech Republic]

INTRODUCTION

The RESOLUTE was a multinational, non interventional, 6 month prospective observational project evaluating in clinical practice, whether patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled with detemir in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) may benefit from switching to glargine. In Czech Republic 200 patients, for whom the participating physician according to their own consideration, had decided to prescribe insulin glargine in replacement of insulin detemir, were included in this project.

OBJECTIVES

The primary endpoint was to assess the change in HbA1c over the 6- month period in T2DM patients treated with insulin glargin after switch from insulin detemir. Secondary endpoints included the evaluation of the change in fasting plasma glucose, insulin dose, body weight over the 6-month period after starting insulin glargine , the evaluation of the number of hypoglycemia during the last month of therapy which each basal insulin and the frequency of adverse events (AE) during treatment with insulin glargine.

RESULTS

Insulin glargine therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement in compensation of diabetes characterized by a mean HbA1c decrease of about 0.82 (± 0.93) % (p < 0.001) and a mean decrease of recorded fasting glycemia about 1.91 (± 2.81) mmol/ l (p < 0.001). No significant change in the mean body weight was recorded du-ring study [+0.12 (± 2.98) kg; p = NS]. The mean daily insulin glargine dose used at the end of the observation increased in comparison with last mean daily dose of insulin detemir [+2.99 (± 7.54) U; p < 0.001]. The improvement in glycemic control was accompanied by low risk of hypoglycemia. The percentage of patients with documented symptomatic (5.0%), nocturnal (2.5%) and severe (0%) hypoglycemia in the last month of glargine therapy was consistently lower compared with the last month of previous treatment with detemir (14.6%, 9.5% and 2.5%, respectively). Other adverse events were reported in 3.0% of patients on glargine therapy. No adverse events were considered as adverse event related to insulin glargin treatment. No serious adverse or no serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation or death were documented during the course of the study.

CONCLUSION

Under reallife conditions, switching from insulin detemir to once daily insulin glargine in poorly controlled T2DM patients resulted in clinically relevant improvements in glycemic control without an increase in weight and hypoglycemia risk.

Integrating advances in insulin into clinical practice: Overview of current insulin formulations

Defects in both insulin secretion and function play a fundamental role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying both type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As the most physiologic treatment option available, insulin plays a central role in the management of patients with T1DM and a growing role in the management of patients with T2DM, as is reflected in current treatment guidelines.

Initiating basal insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes: practical steps to optimize glycemic control

Primary care practitioners are increasingly responsible for the management of the escalating numbers of patients with type 2 diabetes. The majority of these patients will require insulin replacement therapy as their disease progresses, because glycemic control is often unsustainable using oral antidiabetic drugs. This review explains the practicalities of initiating and optimizing basal insulin in clinical practice, emphasizing the need for regular glycated hemoglobin (A1c) monitoring to allow timely initiation of insulin when the A1c target is not met. The importance of patient education in overcoming barriers to insulin is discussed, as well as the choice of available basal insulins and the necessity to optimize basal insulin dosage by self-titration. The traditional view of insulin therapy as a last resort is challenged with the modern basal insulin analogues (insulin detemir and insulin glargine), which offer simple and effective glycemic control with a reduced risk of hypoglycemia compared with older insulin formulations such as neutral protamine Hagedorn.

Insulin detemir in the management of type 2 diabetes in non-Western countries: safety and effectiveness data from the A₁chieve observational study

AIMS

This subgroup analysis of the A₁chieve study examined data from 15,545 people who started treatment with insulin detemir ± oral glucose-lowering drugs in routine clinical care.

METHODS

A₁chieve was a 24-week, international, prospective, non-interventional study of people with type 2 diabetes from non-Western nations starting treatment with basal insulin detemir, bolus insulin aspart or biphasic insulin aspart 30, alone or in combination, to evaluate their safety and effectiveness in routine clinical practice.

RESULTS

HbA₁c for the global cohort improved after 24 weeks from 9.5 ± 1.6% by -2.0 ± 1.6% [80 ± 17 by -22 ± 17 mmol/mol] (-2.1 ± 1.6% [-23 ± 17 mmol/mol] for insulin-naïve participants; -1.6 ± 1.7% [-17 ± 19 mmol/mol] for prior insulin users). Fasting plasma glucose and postprandial plasma glucose were also significantly reduced (p<0.001), irrespective of prior therapy or geographical region. The incidence of major hypoglycaemia decreased significantly over 24 weeks in both the insulin-naïve and insulin-experienced groups (p<0.0001). Mean body weight decreased overall by -0.4 ± 4.0 kg and blood pressure, lipid profiles, and self-reported quality of life improved over 24 weeks for all people starting treatment with insulin detemir.

CONCLUSION

People with type 2 diabetes in poor glycaemic control starting treatment with insulin detemir reported significant improvements in glycaemic control with improved treatment tolerability, irrespective of prior treatment and geographical region, after 24 weeks.

One-year sustained glycemic control and weight reduction in type 2 diabetes after addition of liraglutide to metformin followed by insulin detemir according to HbA1c target

AIM

To investigate durability of efficacy and safety over 1 year of the sequence of liraglutide added to metformin followed by add-on insulin detemir if glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) remains ≥7.0%.

METHODS

Patients previously uncontrolled on metformin±sulfonylurea with HbA1c ≥7.0% after 12 weeks of adding liraglutide 1.8mg to metformin (run-in; sulfonylurea discontinued) were randomized 1:1 to 52 weeks' open-label add-on detemir (randomized treatment [RT] group; n=162) or continuation without detemir (randomized control [RC] group; n=161). Patients with HbA1c <7.0% continued 52 weeks' unchanged treatment (observational group; n=498).

RESULTS

Run-in HbA1c improvement from 8.3% to 7.6% (-0.6%) was further enhanced in the RT group (-0.50%) and maintained in the RC group (+0.01%) over 52 weeks; estimated treatment difference (ETD)[95%CI]: -0.51 [-0.70;-0.31]; P<0.0001. More RT (52%) than RC patients (22%) achieved HbA1c <7.0% at 52 weeks (P<0.0001). Run-in weight loss (-3.5kg) was maintained in the RT (-0.05kg) and enhanced in the RC group (-1.02kg) after 52 weeks; ETD [95%CI]: 0.97 [0.04;1.91]; P=0.04. No major hypoglycemia occurred; minor hypoglycemia rates were low across groups (0.034-0.228 events/patient-year).

CONCLUSIONS

Supplementing metformin+liraglutide with detemir for 52 weeks improved glycemic control with sustained weight loss and low hypoglycemia rate.

Exploring insulin analogue safety and effectiveness in a Maghrebian cohort with type 2 diabetes: results from the A₁chieve study

AIM

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia that formed the Maghrebian cohort of the 24-week, non-interventional A₁chieve study.

METHODS

Patients starting biphasic insulin aspart, insulin detemir and insulin aspart, alone or in combination, were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs), including major hypoglycaemic events. Secondary outcomes included hypoglycaemia, glycated haemoglobin A₁c (HbA₁c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight and lipids. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the EQ-5D questionnaire.

RESULTS

Overall, 3720 patients with a mean age of 58.6 years, body mass index of 27.7 kg/m(2) and diabetes duration of 11.5 years were enrolled. Pre-study, insulin-experienced patients had a mean ± SD dose of 0.54 ± 0.27 U/kg. In the entire cohort, the mean dose was 0.42 ± 0.27 U/kg at baseline, titrated to 0.55 ± 0.30 U/kg by Week 24. Twenty-six SADRs were reported during the study. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of patients reporting overall hypoglycaemia from baseline to Week 24 (18.3% to 13.8%, p < 0.0001). The mean HbA₁c improved significantly from 9.5 ± 1.8% to 7.9 ± 1.4% (p < 0.001). The mean FPG, PPPG, SBP, total cholesterol and QoL also improved significantly (all p < 0.001), while the mean body weight increased by 0.9 ± 3.9 kg (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Insulin analogue therapy was well-tolerated and was associated with improved glycaemic control.

Criteria influencing the choice of starting insulin regimen in patients with type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice: baseline data from the Algerian cohort of the A₁chieve study

AIM

To examine the criteria that may influence physicians' choice of starting insulin in type 2 diabetes patients in routine practice in Algeria as a sub-analysis of the A₁chieve study.

METHODS

A₁chieve was a 24-week international, prospective, non-interventional study conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30), insulin detemir (IDet), or insulin aspart alone or in combination, in real-life clinical settings. We report an analysis of baseline data from insulin-naive patients initiating basal or premix insulin from the Algeria cohort (n = 1494). Demographic and anthropometric data, blood glucose control at inclusion, microvascular complications, and pre-study therapy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 772 insulin-naive patients initiating therapy with IDet or BIAsp 30 were included in this analysis: IDet: 638 (83%), BIAsp 30: 134 (17%). Most IDet-group patients initiated once-daily therapy (n = 636; 99.7%); conversely, most BIAsp 30-group patients started twice-daily therapy (n = 104; 77.6%). Baseline factors influencing regimen choice were microvascular complications (odds ratio [95% CI], yes/no: 0.73 [0.55, 0.98]; p = 0.034) and HbA1c at baseline (%, odds ratio [95% CI] 0.82 [0.72, 0.94]; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In routine practice, physicians in Algeria are more likely to prescribe basal insulin at initiation of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. The prescription of a premix insulin therapy correlated with poor glycaemic control and the incidence of microvascular complications.

Safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in Moroccan patients with type 2 diabetes: a sub-analysis of the A₁chieve study

AIM

To determine the safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in the Moroccan cohort of the prospective, multinational, non-interventional, 24-week A₁chieve study.

METHODS

Moroccan patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) starting biphasic insulin aspart 30, insulin detemir, and insulin aspart alone or in combination were included. The primary outcome was the evaluation of serious adverse drug reactions including major hypoglycaemic events. Secondary outcomes were changes in hypoglycaemic events, glycaemic parameters (HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose [FPG], postprandial plasma glucose [PPPG]), systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight and lipid profile. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the EQ-5D questionnaire.

RESULTS

In this analysis, 1641 patients (923 insulin-naive, 718 insulin-experienced) having a mean age 57.1 years, mean BMI 26.8 kg/m(2) and mean diabetes duration 10.3 years, were included. Baseline HbA1c in the entire cohort was poor (9.7%, 83 mmol/mol). Insulin analogues statistically significantly improved glucose control (HbA1c, FPG and PPPG, p < 0.001) at Week 24. The rate of hypoglycaemia decreased from 9.31 to 4.71 events/patient-year (change in proportion of patients affected, p = 0.0002). A statistically significant improvement in lipid parameters (except HDL cholesterol) was observed while body weight changed minimally. Additionally, QoL was positively impacted (mean change in visual analogue scores from EQ-5D was 15.8 points, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin analogue therapy resulted in improved glycaemic control and a significant overall decrease in hypoglycaemia in Moroccan T2D patients.

Safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in type 2 diabetic patients from Algeria: a sub-analysis of the A₁chieve study

AIM

To determine the safety and effectiveness of insulin analogues in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients in the Algerian cohort of the A₁chieve study and to examine the status of T2D management across different regions in Algeria.

METHODS

Patients starting therapy with biphasic insulin aspart 30, insulin detemir, insulin aspart (IAsp) or IAsp + basal insulin at their physicians' decision were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs), including major hypoglycaemia. Secondary outcomes included changes from baseline to Week 24 in hypoglycaemia, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG), weight and quality of life (QoL, evaluated using the EQ-5D questionnaire).

RESULTS

Overall, 1494 patients (mean ± SD age: 60.1 ± 10.3 years; body mass index: 28.1 ± 4.9 kg/m(2); HbA1c: 9.2 ± 1.8%) were enrolled. Poor baseline glucose control was revealed across the different Algerian regions with mean HbA1c varying from 8.9% to 9.6%. Two SADRs were reported during the study. The proportion of patients reporting major hypoglycaemic events decreased from 1.1% at baseline to 0.2% at Week 24 (p = 0.0017). Significant improvements in mean HbA1c (-1.3 ± 2.0%), FPG (-38.8 ± 79.9 mg/dL) and post-breakfast PPPG (-51.4 ± 97.1 mg/dL) were observed in the entire cohort (all p < 0.001). The mean body weight increased by 0.9 ± 3.8 kg, while QoL increased by 9.2 ± 16.7 points after 24 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin analogue therapy was well-tolerated and significantly improved blood glucose control over 24 weeks in the Algerian cohort.

Variability of glucose-lowering effect as a limiting factor in optimizing basal insulin therapy: a review

Lowering blood glucose with insulin therapy towards beneficial target levels while also avoiding hypoglycaemia is a challenging task. An important confounding factor, which might be under-appreciated in this scenario, is that of variable glucose readings causing difficulties with dose adjustment. Furthermore, this glucose variability is, to some extent, a reflection of variability in the glucose-lowering action of the insulin therapy itself. Not only is glucose variability a major confounding factor in disease management but it is possibly also of direct prognostic consequence and is increasingly recognized as an informative measurement in diabetes management. The scope for insulin-induced glucose variability is particularly great with basal insulins because of their prolonged absorption from high-dose depots. Pharmacodynamic (PD) variability manifests as both fluctuations in the level of glucose-lowering effect over time, and as inconsistencies in the response from one injection to another. Well-controlled pharmacokinetic (PK)/PD studies using repeated isoglycaemic clamp methodology clearly how that many injected basal insulin products have high variable absorption with correspondingly variable action. Incomplete resuspension and precipitation appear to be important issues with regard to unpredictability in this action, while an inadequate duration of action relative to the dosing interval results in a fluctuating action profile. There are some ultra-long-acting basal insulins with novel protraction mechanisms currently in clinical development for which clamp studies show markedly improved PK/PD profiles.

Resource utilisation and quality of life following initiation of insulin detemir in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Barriers to insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) include fear of treatment complexity and perceived lack of time and resources by primary care physicians. The SOLVE study investigated the effect of insulin initiation on resource utilisation and patient quality of life.

METHODS

SOLVE was a 24-week cohort study in 10 countries evaluating the safety and effectiveness of initiating once-daily insulin detemir in patients with T2DM. Patient quality of life was assessed using the Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale (ITAS).

RESULTS

A total of 14,611 (84%) patients completed the 24-week study. During the study, HbA1c improved by 1.3 ± 1.5%. The corresponding insulin dose increased from 13 ± 6 IU (0.16 ± 0.09 IU/kg) at baseline, to 22 ± 16 IU (0.27 ± 0.17 IU/kg) at final visit. FlexPen was the preferred device (63%) for insulin administration. The time taken to teach patients to self-inject and perform dose self-adjustment was 15 ± 13 min and 11 ± 11 min, respectively. The quality of life analysis included 6875 patients. The addition of insulin was associated with an improvement in mean ITAS score [-3.5 (95% CI -3.8, -3.3), p < 0.001]. Physicians reported the use or self-adjustment of insulin detemir as easy or very easy in 79% of participants; and satisfaction with the level of glycaemic control was reported for 74% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiating basal insulin therapy resulted in a substantial decrease in HbA1c and improved patients' perceptions of insulin treatment.

Once-daily initiation of basal insulin as add-on to metformin: a 26-week, randomized, treat-to-target trial comparing insulin detemir with insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of once-daily insulin initiation using insulin detemir (detemir) or insulin glargine (glargine) added to existing metformin in type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

This 26-week, multinational, randomized, treat-to-target trial involved 457 insulin-naïve adults with T2D (HbA1c 7-9%). Detemir or glargine was added to current metformin therapy [any second oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) discontinued] and titrated to a target fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≤90 mg/dl (≤5.0 mmol/l). Primary efficacy endpoint was change in HbA1c.

RESULTS

Mean (s.d.) HbA1c decreased with detemir and glargine by 0.48 and 0.74%-points, respectively, to 7.48% (0.91%) and 7.13% (0.72%) [estimated between-treatment difference, 0.30 (95% CI: 0.14-0.46)]. Non-inferiority for detemir at the a priori level of 0.4%-points was not established. The proportions of patients reaching HbA1c ≤ 7% at 26 weeks were 38% and 53% (p = 0.026) with detemir and glargine, respectively. FPG decreased ∼43.2 mg/dl (∼2.4 mmol/l) in both groups [non-significant (NS)]. Treatment satisfaction was good for both insulins. Hypoglycaemia, which occurred infrequently, was observed less with detemir than glargine [rate ratio 0.73 (95% CI 0.54-0.98)]. The proportions of patients reaching HbA1c ≤ 7% without hypoglycaemia in the detemir and glargine groups were 32% and 38% (NS), respectively. Weight decreased with detemir [-0.49 (3.3) kg] and increased with glargine [+1.0 (3.1) kg] (95% CI for difference: -2.17 to -0.89 kg).

CONCLUSION

While both detemir and glargine, when added to metformin therapy, improved glycaemic control, glargine resulted in greater reductions in HbA1c, while detemir demonstrated less weight gain and hypoglycaemia.

Albumin as a drug delivery and diagnostic tool and its market approved products

Albumin is one of the most extensively studied endogenous proteins which are used in the fabrication of drug delivery and diagnostic technologies during last 10 years. This review provides a summary of products involving the use of albumin as a drug delivery tool for getting better the pharmacokinetics of a drug by developing the targetted drug delivery systems and diagnosing the pathologies. Using albumin, following market approved products have been developed: Levemir and Victoza (antidiabetic product), Abraxane (antimetastatic breast cancer product), and Nanocoll and Albures (for lymphoscintigraphy and diagnosis of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis).