Association of insulin regimens with severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 1 diabetes: A Danish case-control study

Effect of Newer Long-Acting Insulins on Hypoglycemia and Fracture Risk Among People with Diabetes: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To investigate the effect of newer long-acting insulins on the risk of hypoglycemic episodes and fractures in people with diabetes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hypoglycemic episodes are the critical limiting factor in glycemic management due to a deteriorating effect on quality of life. Hypoglycemia may in severe cases lead to unconsciousness and thus fractures. Newer long-acting insulins may result in more stable blood glucose levels, less hypoglycemic episodes, and reduced risk of fractures. Use of insulin increases risk of hypoglycemic episodes, and hypoglycemic episodes increase risk of fractures plausible due to falls. Newer ultra-long-acting insulins reduce risk of hypoglycemic episodes compared to older alternatives, and they are thus promising for reducing fracture risk. However, more studies are needed to determine whether these new insulins reduce risk of fractures.

Epidemiology of hypoglycaemic episodes leading to hospitalisations in Denmark in 1998-2018

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We aimed to investigate the nationwide trends in incidence and associated risk factors, with focus on blood glucose-lowering medication, for the first hypoglycaemic episode leading to hospitalisation in Denmark among people with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A cohort study of all people with diabetes from 1977 to 2018 experiencing hypoglycaemic episodes leading to hospitalisation in 1998-2018 was established. Data were extracted from the Danish National Patient Registry. Trends in incidence rates were investigated with Poisson regression models and linear regressions, and risk factors were investigated with Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

A total of 66,438 hypoglycaemic episodes leading to hospitalisation in 1998-2018 was investigated among 641,402 people with type 1 (mean ± SD age 37 ± 22 years) and type 2 diabetes (mean ± SD age 61 ± 17 years). Between 2003 and 2018, the incidence rate fell by 66% for type 1 diabetes (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.34 [95% CI 0.31, 0.36], p < 0.0001) and 61% for type 2 diabetes (IRR 0.39 [95% CI 0.36, 0.42], p < 0.0001). With respect to hypoglycaemic episodes, insulin glargine (HR 1.20 [95% CI 1.05, 1.36], p = 0.0059), insulin detemir (HR 1.18 [95% CI 1.04, 1.32], p = 0.0077) and insulin degludec (HR 1.04 [95% CI 0.81,1.33], p = 0.7706) seemed safer than human insulin (long-acting insulin HR 1.38 [95% CI 1.25, 1.52], p < 0.0001; combination insulins HR 1.84 [95% CI 1.65, 2.05], p < 0.0001) and, especially, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (HR 0.43 [95% CI 0.33, 0.56], p < 0.0001), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (HR 0.51 [95% CI 0.44, 0.58], p < 0.0001) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (HR 0.44 [95% CI 0.38, 0.49], p < 0.0001) seemed safer than sulfonylureas (HR 2.27 [95% CI 2.18, 2.37], p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Incidence rates of hypoglycaemic episodes leading to hospitalisation are declining in Denmark, and the advent of new treatment alternatives may play a significant role in this decline. From a safety perspective, these findings are important and should be considered by clinicians when assessing treatment options for patients.

Association of insulin regimens with severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 1 diabetes: A Danish case-control study

AIMS

To evaluate the risk of severe hypoglycaemia for patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) when exposed to insulin regimens including human insulin only or insulin analogues.

METHODS

A total of 19 896 patients with T1D were extracted from the Danish National Patient Register. Of these, 6379 T1D patients experiencing 1 of more severe hypoglycaemic episodes (total of 17 242 episodes) were matched 1:1 with T1D patients without severe hypoglycaemia. A logistic regression model with last insulin regimen used as exposure was constructed to analyse the effect on severe hypoglycaemia.

RESULTS

People on a basal-bolus regimen with insulin analogues had a reduced risk of severe hypoglycaemia of 39% (odds ratio: 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.54-0.68) compared to patients on a basal-bolus human insulin only regimen. Furthermore, patients on a premixed regimen containing an insulin analogue had a 58% (odds ratio: 0.42, 95% confidence interval: 0.36-0.49) reduced risk of severe hypoglycaemia compared to patients on premixed human insulin only.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that use of a basal-bolus insulin regimen with an insulin analogue is safer with respect to severe hypoglycaemia in patients with T1D than the use of a basal-bolus human insulin only regimen.