BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of adding basal insulin to initiating dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor and metformin and/or sulfonylurea (SU) in achieving the target glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This was a single-arm, multicenter, 24-week, open-label, phase 4 study in patients with inadequately controlled (HbA1c ≥7.5%) T2DM despite the use of DPP-4 inhibitor and metformin. A total of 108 patients received insulin glargine while continuing oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs). The primary efficacy endpoint was the percentage of subjects achieving HbA1c ≤7.0%. Other glycemic profiles were also evaluated, and the safety endpoints were adverse events (AEs) and hypoglycemia. RESULTS: The median HbA1c at baseline (8.9%; range, 7.5% to 11.1%) decreased to 7.6% (5.5% to 11.7%) at 24 weeks. Overall, 31.7% subjects (n=33) achieved the target HbA1c level of ≤7.0%. The mean differences in body weight and fasting plasma glucose were 1.2±3.4 kg and 56.0±49.8 mg/dL, respectively. Hypoglycemia was reported in 36 subjects (33.3%, 112 episodes), all of which were fully recovered. There was no serious AE attributed to insulin glargine. Body weight change was significantly different between SU users and nonusers (1.5±2.5 kg vs. −0.9±6.0 kg, P=0.011). CONCLUSION: The combination add-on therapy of insulin glargine, on metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors with or without SU was safe and efficient in reducing HbA1c levels and thus, is a preferable option in managing T2DM patients exhibiting dysglycemia despite the use of OADs.
Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin Glargine ; Insulin ; Metformin ; Morinda

BACKGROUND: Many Muslim type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients choose to fast the month of Ramadan despite the possible adverse health effects brought about by the change in dietary habits, among other things. Clinical data regarding the safety of multi-drug regimens during fasting are particularly scarce. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of a drug protocol devised by the authors to accommodate Ramadan's dietary changes, involving dose adjustments of four anti-diabetic drug regimens in T2DM patients fasting Ramadan. METHODS: In this prospective, observational, open-label study, 301 T2DM patients who wished to fast Ramadan were followed during Ramadan and the preceding month. The incidence of hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and non-ketotic hyperosmolar state (NKHS) was monitored. Patients were classified into four groups: A group (those taking metformin, sulfonylurea and insulin [n=33]); B group (metformin and sulfonylurea [n=89]); C group (metformin and insulin [n=96]); and D group (premixed 70/30, glargine or regular insulin [n=82]). During Ramadan, drug doses were adjusted as percentages of their pre-Ramadan values: 75% for sulfonylureas, 75% for glargine, 75% for premixed insulin 70/30 in two doses, and 75% for regular insulin. Metformin was adjusted to a twice-daily regimen. RESULTS: No cases of DKA or NKHS were reported. Hypoglycemia occurred at a lower rate than pre-Ramadan values in groups C, and D; and a similar rate in groups A, and B. CONCLUSION: The data suggested that using the above protocol to adjust the doses of anti-diabetic drugs is safe in T2DM patients in regards to hypoglycemia, DKA, and NKHS.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis ; Fasting* ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Insulin Glargine ; Islam ; Metformin ; Observational Study* ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity is increasing in Korea. Clinical studies in patients with T2DM have shown that combining the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exenatide twice daily with basal insulin is an effective glucose-lowering strategy. However, these studies were predominantly conducted in non-Asian populations. METHODS: We conducted a subgroup analysis of data from a multinational, 30-week, randomized, open-label trial to compare the effects of exenatide twice daily (n=10) or three times daily mealtime insulin lispro (n=13) among Korean patients with T2DM inadequately controlled (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] >7.0%) on metformin plus optimized insulin glargine. RESULTS: Exenatide twice daily and insulin lispro both reduced HbA1c (mean −1.5% and −1.0%, respectively; P<0.01 vs. baseline). Fasting glucose and weight numerically decreased with exenatide twice daily (−0.7 mmol/L and −0.7 kg, respectively) and numerically increased with insulin lispro (0.9 mmol/L and 1.0 kg, respectively). Minor hypoglycemia occurred in four patients receiving exenatide twice daily and three patients receiving insulin lispro. Gastrointestinal adverse events were the most common with exenatide twice daily treatment. CONCLUSION: This analysis found treatment with exenatide twice daily improved glycemic control without weight gain in Korean patients with T2DM unable to achieve glycemic control on metformin plus basal insulin.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fasting ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin Glargine ; Insulin Lispro* ; Insulin* ; Korea ; Meals ; Metformin ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of insulin glargine in a large population from a variety of clinical care in Iranian people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to measure the percentage of patients achieving glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <7% by the end of 24 weeks of treatment in routine clinical practice. METHODS: This study was a 24 week, observational study of patients with T2DM, for whom the physician had decided to initiate or to switch to insulin glargine. The safety and efficacy of glargine were assessed at baseline and at week 24. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty-five people with T2DM (63% female) including both insulin naïve and prior insulin users were recruited in this study. The mean age of the participants was 54.2±11.2 years, and the mean HbA1c level was 8.88%±0.93% at baseline. By the end of the study, 27% of the entire participants reached to HbA1c target of less than 7% and 52% had HbA1c ≤7.5%. No serious adverse event was reported in this study. Furthermore, overall hypoglycemia did not increase in prior insulin users and the entire cohort. In addition, body weight did not change in participants while lipid profile improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Treatment with insulin glargine could improve glycemic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemic events in people with T2DM. In addition, a significant clinical improvement was observed in lipid profile.
Body Weight ; Cohort Studies ; Consensus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin Glargine ; Insulin* ; Observational Study

Insulin plays an important role in the treatment of diabetes. Since it was discovered in the early 1920s, major advances have been made in the medical use of insulin. However, certain insulin associated challenges remain, such as hypoglycemia, weight gain, complex management, and injection site pain. Novel insulins and delivery systems are being developed that can address these limitations. Insulin degludec is a novel basal insulin with a long half-life (25 hours) and action duration (> 42 hours). Glargine U300 is a concentrated formulation of insulin glargine. For improvement in postprandial glucose control, ultrarapid-acting insulins are being investigated. New insulin delivery systems including inhaled insulin and insulin patches are also being developed to overcome the inconvenience associated with subcutaneous injection. In this review, clinical studies of new insulins and new insulin delivery systems are summarized.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose ; Half-Life ; Hypoglycemia ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Insulin* ; Insulins* ; Weight Gain ; Insulin Glargine

BACKGROUNDIncreased risk of bladder cancer has been reported in diabetic patients. This study was to investigate the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) 1 and 2 in the regulation of human insulin- and insulin glargine-induced proliferation of human bladder cancer T24 cells.

METHODSIn the absence or presence of a selective inhibitor for MEK1 (PD98059) or a specific siRNA for MEK2 (siMEK2), with or without addition of insulin or glargine, T24 cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay. Protein expression of MEK2, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt was analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTST24 cell proliferation was promoted by PD98059 at 5 - 20 µmol/L, inhibited by siMEK2 at 25 - 100 nmol/L. PD98059 and siMEK2 remarkably reduced phosphorylated ERK1/2. Insulin- and glargine-induced T24 cell proliferation was enhanced by PD98059, suppressed while not blocked by siMEK2. Insulin- and glargine-induced ERK1/2 activation was blocked by PD98059 or siMEK2 treatment, whereas activation of Akt was not affected.

CONCLUSIONMEK1 inhibits while MEK2 contributes to normal and human insulin- and insulin glargine-induced human bladder cancer T24 cell proliferation.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin Glargine ; Insulin, Long-Acting ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Kinase 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Kinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; genetics ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism

Day-to-day insulin requirements often change due to subtle variations in insulin metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing hemodialysis. In such cases, intra-hemodialysis hypoglycemia frequently occurs and is a main factor interfering with the delivery of dialysis. As a result, it reduces the quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The long-acting insulin analogue glargine provides peakless, continuous release over 24 h that approximates a normal basal insulin pattern. Because it has no peak, its use in patients with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis would hypothetically be useful. Specifically, patients would be able to avoid intra-hemodialysis hypoglycemia without the necessity of skipping insulin administration on the day of hemodialysis and achieving adequate glucose control on other days. We recently experienced six cases that switched from treatment with intermediate-acting insulin to a long-acting insulin analogue, which provided better glycemic control by reducing hypoglycemia risk. Limited data are available in the literature concerning insulin analogue usage in patients with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis. Our experience suggests a large-scale prospective investigation is required on this issue.
Dialysis ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin, Long-Acting ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; Insulin Glargine

BACKGROUND: The present study investigates the efficacy in glycemic control by adding once-a-day glulisine to glargine as a basal plus regimen and factors influencing glycemic control with the basal plus regimen in Korean subjects with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In the present retrospective study, subjects previously treated with the basal plus regimens for at least 6 months were reviewed. Changes in glycemic profiles and clinical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 87 subjects were ultimately enrolled in this study. At baseline, mean glycated hemoglobin (A1c) and glycated albumin were 8.5% (8.0% to 9.6%) and 25.2+/-7.6%, respectively. After treatment with the basal plus regimen, patients had significant reductions of A1c at 6 months (0.8+/-0.1%, P<0.001) and their postprandial glucose levels were decreased by 48.7+/-10.3 mg/dL (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.55), high initial A1c (OR, 22.21; 95% CI, 2.44 to 201.78), and lower amounts of glargine (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.99), and glimepiride (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.93) at baseline were independently associated with good responders whose A1c reduction was more than 0.5%. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest a basal plus regimen may be effective in reducing glucose levels of subjects with old age, high initial A1c, and patients on low doses of glimepiride and glargine. Despite the use of high doses of hypoglycemic agents, elderly patients with poorly-controlled diabetes are preferred for early initiation of the basal plus regimen.
Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Insulin, Long-Acting ; Insulin, Short-Acting ; Logistic Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; Sulfonylurea Compounds ; Insulin Glargine

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of two insulin treatment protocols using a continuous glucose monitoring system.

METHODSType 2 diabetic patients mellitus with unsatisfactory control of fasting blood glucose by oral antidiabetic drugs were included in the study. The patients were randomized into two groups to receive bedtime injection of glargine and oral antidiabetic drugs (group A) or injection of Novolin 30 R twice a day (group B) for 12 weeks. The insuline dose was adjusted according to fasting blood glucose till discharge. Continuous glucose monitoring system was used to record the average blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, AUCPG ≥ 10.0 mmol/L%, HbA1c and C peptide, bedtime blood glucose, 3:00 AM blood glucose, the incidence of hypoglycemia and body mass index.

RESULTSThe average blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial blood glucose, AUCPG ≥ 10.0 mmol/L% and HbA1c was significantly decreased and C peptide significantly increased in the two groups after the treatments. The patients in glargine group showed better improvement with a significantly lower incidence of hypoglycemia than those in Novolin 30 R group. BMI underwent no significant changes in the two groups after the treatments.

CONCLUSIONGlargine therapy better mimics the physiological insulin secretion patterns, and when combined with oral antidiabetic drugs, can be more effective and safer than premixed insulin.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; methods ; Computer Systems ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; Insulin Glargine ; Insulin, Long-Acting ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Ambulatory

This is a work aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the combination of metformin with glargine or with neutral protamine Hagedorn in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sixty such patients with poor glycemic control by oral antidiabetic drugs were included and divided into group A and group B. Thirty patients in group A were treated with glargine and metformin, and the other 30 patients in group B were treated with neutral protamine Hagedorn and metformin for 12 weeks. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial glucose(PPG) and HbA1c were measured before and after the treatment. Hypoglycemia was also noted. At the end of the study, the levels of FPG, PPG and HbAlc were significantly lower than the baseline levels in the two groups (P < 0.05). At the 12th week, the percentage of HbAlc < 7% in group A was 53.3% and that in group B was 40.0%; statistically, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). After the end of the treatment, there was no significant difference in that the percentage of HbA1c < 7% was 70.6% in group A and 62.5% in group B; the two groups' HbA1c levels were > or = 7%-9% at the baseline (P > 0.05). No sigificant difference in respect to the incidence rate of hypoglycemia in the two groups was noted (P > 0.05). In the cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycaemic control by oral antidiabetic drug, glucose and HbA1c can be lowered further by the combination of metformin with glargine or with neutral protamine Hagedorn, the incidence rate of hypoglycemia is low. Metformin plus glargine or plus neutral protamine Hagedorn is a safe and effective therapeutic choice for type 2 diabetes mellitus cases with poor glycaemic control; moreover, metformin plus neutral protamine is a cheaper and effective choice.
Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Insulin Glargine ; Insulin, Isophane ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Insulin, Long-Acting ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Male ; Metformin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Middle Aged