Why and how to use insulin therapy earlier in the management of type 2 diabetes

Insulin: The Friend and the Foe in the Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Insulin, a hormone produced by pancreatic β-cells, has a primary function of maintaining glucose homeostasis. Deficiencies in β-cell insulin secretion result in the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders characterized by high levels of blood glucose. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by the presence of peripheral insulin resistance in tissues such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver and develops when β-cells fail to compensate for the peripheral insulin resistance. Insulin resistance triggers a rise in insulin demand and leads to β-cell compensation by increasing both β-cell mass and insulin secretion and leads to the development of hyperinsulinemia. In a vicious cycle, hyperinsulinemia exacerbates the metabolic dysregulations that lead to β-cell failure and the development of T2DM. Insulin and IGF-1 signaling pathways play critical roles in maintaining the differentiated phenotype of β-cells. The autocrine actions of secreted insulin on β-cells is still controversial; work by us and others has shown positive and negative actions by insulin on β-cells. We discuss findings that support the concept of an autocrine action of secreted insulin on β-cells. The hypothesis of whether, during the development of T2DM, secreted insulin initially acts as a friend and contributes to β-cell compensation and then, at a later stage, becomes a foe and contributes to β-cell decompensation will be discussed.

Cost-Effectiveness of Insulin Degludec Versus Insulin Glargine U100 in Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Serbia

INTRODUCTION

This study investigates the cost-effectiveness of insulin degludec versus insulin glargine U100 in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Serbia.

METHODS

A cost-utility analysis, implementing a simple short-term model, was used to compare treatment costs and outcomes with degludec versus glargine U100 in patients with type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Cost-effectiveness was analysed in a 1-year setting, based on data from clinical trials. Costs were estimated from the healthcare payer perspective, the Serbian Health Insurance Fund (RFZO). The outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) or cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained.

RESULTS

Degludec is highly cost-effective compared with glargine U100 for people with T1DM and T2DM in Serbia. The ICERs are estimated at 417,586 RSD/QALY gained in T1DM, 558,811 RSD/QALY gained in T2DM on basal oral therapy (T2DMBOT) and 1,200,141 RSD/QALY gained in T2DM on basal-bolus therapy (T2DMB/B). All ICERs fall below the commonly accepted thresholds for cost-effectiveness in Serbia (1,785,642 RSD/QALY gained). In all three patient groups, insulin costs are higher with degludec than with glargine U100, but these costs are partially offset by savings from a lower daily insulin dose in T1DM and T2DMBOT, a reduction in hypoglycaemic events in all three patient groups and reduced costs of SMBG testing in the T2DM groups with degludec versus glargine U100.

CONCLUSION

Degludec is a cost-effective alternative to glargine U100 for patients with T1DM and T2DM in Serbia. Degludec may particularly benefit those suffering from hypoglycaemia or where the patient would benefit from the option of flexible dosing.

FUNDING

Novo Nordisk.

Barriers to initiating insulin in type 2 diabetes patients: development of a new patient education tool to address myths, misconceptions and clinical realities

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify patient beliefs as well as clinical realities about insulin that may be barriers to type 2 diabetes patients initiating insulin treatment when recommended by their physician. This information was then used to develop a clinically relevant, cross-culturally valid patient education tool with the goal of providing unbiased, medically informative statements addressing these barriers.

Methods

Thirteen focus groups were conducted in five countries (Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, UK, and USA) to collect qualitative data on attitudes about insulin therapy from type 2 diabetes patients aged 18 or older whose physician had recommended initiating insulin treatment in the past 6 months (n = 87). Additionally, a panel of four clinical experts was interviewed to ascertain obstacles they experience in initiating insulin with their patients.

Results

On the basis of the interview data, the ten questions that asked about the most important barriers were generated. The clinical expert panel then generated clinically accurate and unbiased responses addressing these concerns, and the educational tool “Questions about Starting Insulin: Information on the Myths, Misconceptions and Clinical Realities about Insulin” was drafted. The draft tool was pilot tested in a group of patients and finalized.

Conclusions

Patient misconceptions, as well as some clinical realities, about insulin treatment and diabetes can influence the decision to initiate insulin treatment and ultimately impact disease management. The educational tool developed through this study was designed to help patients who are deciding whether or not to initiate insulin therapy as recommended by their physician, and facilitate patient–health-care provider interactions.

Identifying and meeting the challenges of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic illness that requires clinical recognition and treatment of the dual pathophysiologic entities of altered glycemic control and insulin resistance to reduce the risk of long-term micro- and macrovascular complications. Although insulin is one of the most effective and widely used therapeutic options in the management of diabetes, it is used by less than one-half of patients for whom it is recommended. Clinician-, patient-, and health care system-related challenges present numerous obstacles to insulin use in T2DM. Clinicians must remain informed about new insulin products, emerging technologies, and treatment options that have the potential to improve adherence to insulin therapy while optimizing glycemic control and mitigating the risks of therapy. Patient-related challenges may be overcome by actively listening to the patient’s fears and concerns regarding insulin therapy and by educating patients about the importance, rationale, and evolving role of insulin in individualized self-treatment regimens. Enlisting the services of Certified Diabetes Educators and office personnel can help in addressing patient-related challenges. Self-management of diabetes requires improved patient awareness regarding the importance of lifestyle modifications, self-monitoring, and/or continuous glucose monitoring, improved methods of insulin delivery (eg, insulin pens), and the enhanced convenience and safety provided by insulin analogs. Health care system-related challenges may be improved through control of the rising cost of insulin therapy while making it available to patients. To increase the success rate of treatment of T2DM, the 2012 position statement from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes focused on individualized patient care and provided clinicians with general treatment goals, implementation strategies, and tools to evaluate the quality of care.

Real-world rates, predictors, and associated costs of hypoglycemia among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with insulin glargine: results of a pooled analysis of six retrospective observational studies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the real-world rates of hypoglycemia and related costs among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who initiated insulin glargine with either a disposable pen or vial-and-syringe.

METHODS

Pooled data were evaluated from six previously published, retrospective, observational studies using US health plan insurance claims databases to investigate adults with T2DM who initiated insulin glargine. The current study evaluated baseline characteristics, hypoglycemic events, and costs during the 6 months prior to and 12 months following insulin glargine initiation. Comparisons were made between patients initiating treatment with a disposable pen (GLA-P) and vial-and-syringe (GLA-V). Multivariate analyses using baseline characteristics as covariates determined predictors of hypoglycemia after initiating insulin glargine.

RESULTS

This study included 23,098 patients (GLA-P: 14,911; GLA-V: 8187). Overall annual prevalence of hypoglycemia was low (6.3% overall, 2.2% related to hospital admission or emergency department visit). Prevalence was significantly lower with GLA-P (5.5% vs 7.7%; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, average glycated hemoglobin HbA1c reduction was higher with GLA-P (-1.22% vs -0.86%; p = 0.0012). The average annual hypoglycemia-related cost associated with initiating insulin glargine was $293, with GLA-P being 46% lower than GLA-V ($225 vs $417; p = 0.001). Patients who had already developed microvascular complications at the time of initiating insulin therapy were at higher risk for developing hypoglycemia.

LIMITATIONS

This study is limited by the use of retrospective data and ICD-9-CM codes, which are subject to coding error. In addition, this pooled analysis used unmatched cohorts, with multivariate regression analyses employed to adjust for between-group differences. Finally, results describe a managed care sample and cannot be generalized to all patients with T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T2DM initiating insulin glargine treatment showed low rates of hypoglycemia, especially when using a disposable pen device. Hypoglycemia-related costs were low, contributing a very small proportion to overall diabetes-related healthcare costs.

Insulin therapy and type 2 diabetes: management of weight gain

The potential for insulin-related weight gain in patients with type 2 diabetes presents a therapeutic dilemma and frequently leads to delays in the initiation of insulin therapy. It also poses considerable challenges when treatment is intensified. Addressing insulin-related weight gain is highly relevant to the prevention of metabolic and cardiovascular consequences in this high-risk population with type 2 diabetes. In addition to lifestyle changes (eg, diet and exercise) and available medical interventions to minimize the risk of weight gain with insulin treatment, familiarity with the weight gain patterns of different insulins may help deal with this problem. The use of basal insulin analogs may offer advantages over conventional human insulin preparations in terms of more physiologic time-action profiles, reduced risk of hypoglycemia, and reduced weight gain.

Successes and challenges of insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes in a managed-care setting

OBJECTIVE

Although insulin is the most effective diabetes medication for lowering blood glucose, how insulin is used in clinical practice and how well patients respond to insulin therapy over the course of several years has not been documented. Our objective was to describe glycemic control, side-effects and dose titration over 7 years among persons starting insulin in a health plan that has long used a treatment algorithm similar to the current American Diabetes Association/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (ADA-EASD) algorithm for the management of hyperglycemia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients (n = 2417) who initiated insulin therapy between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004 were followed for a mean of 49.5 months until 30 June 2007, death, or health plan termination. Mean hemoglobin A1C, number of units of insulin purchased and body weight were assessed on a quarterly basis. The proportion experiencing edema or hypoglycemia was assessed annually.

RESULTS

Mean population A1C declined from 9.3 to 7.8% following insulin initiation and remained at that level for 7 years. However, A1C remained above 8% for 40% of patients, half of whom remained above 9.0%. The mean individual coefficient of variation in A1C was 0.12 (inter-quartile range 0.072-0.143). Mean daily insulin dosage started at 55 units and increased to approximately 100 units. Patients gained a mean of 6 lb (2.7 kg) during the first year then gained weight more gradually thereafter. Physicians diagnosed edema in 8-9% of patients annually. Hypoglycemia occurred in fewer than 2% of patients in any given year, with no cases requiring hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin lowered mean A1C by about 1.5 percentage points to stable levels, but this required ongoing dosage increases. Nevertheless, many patients remained in poor control. Insulin is effective when used per ADA-EASD guidelines but health plans wishing to optimize diabetes care may need to intensify insulin therapy or consider the use of adjunct therapies in the years after initiation. This study was limited by its observational descriptive design, and its reliance on insulin purchases rather than actual consumption.

Antidiabetic medications and weight gain: implications for the practicing physician

Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and most people with diabetes are overweight or obese. Weight reduction has been shown to improve glycemic control and reduce cardiovascular risk in the diabetic population. While physicians strive to achieve better glycemic control for their patients with diabetes, they are faced with the problem of weight gain that is commonly encountered with the use of antidiabetic agents, particularly insulin, insulin secretagogues, and thiazolidinediones. Weight gain in this population could offset the beneficial effects of good glycemic control and discourage patients from adhering to treatment. In this review, we discuss the effects of the various antidiabetic agents on body weight, highlighting the potential mechanisms and the implications of weight gain in this population. We also present the available therapeutic modalities that have the potential of achieving better glycemic control without adverse effects on body weight.

Improving glycemic control with insulin detemir using the 303 Algorithm in insulin naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: a subgroup analysis of the US PREDICTIVE 303 study

OBJECTIVE

PREDICTIVE 303 was a 26-week, prospective, randomized, open-label, multi-center study in patients with type 2 diabetes that investigated whether patient-driven adjustments of insulin detemir doses using the 303 Algorithm achieved similar glycemic control compared to standard-of-care, physician-driven adjustments in doses. This post hoc sub-analysis evaluates insulin naïve patients on oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) who were directed to start on once-daily insulin detemir as add-on therapy to any other glucose-lowering regimens.

METHODS

Patients in the 303 Algorithm group were instructed to adjust their detemir dose every 3 days based on mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values using a simple algorithm: mean FPG < 80 mg/dL, reduce dose by 3 units; between 80-110mg/dL, no change; > 110mg/dL, increase by 3 units. Physicians adjusted the detemir dose for patients in the Standard-of-care group according to their usual practice. No control insulin was used for comparison to insulin detemir.

RESULTS

Reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) from baseline were similar between those patients in the 303 Algorithm and Standard-of-care groups (-1.1 and -1.0%, respectively; between group p = 0.0933); patients in the 303 Algorithm group achieved a greater reduction in FPG. Patients in both groups experienced a similar, low rate of hypoglycemia. Over 95% and 92% of patients, respectively, used detemir once daily.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that patients with type 2 diabetes naïve to insulin can effectively implement the 303 Algorithm to initiate and adjust a once-daily dose of insulin detemir to achieve improvements in glycemic control.