An analysis of early insulin glargine added to metformin with or without sulfonylurea: impact on glycaemic control and hypoglycaemia.

Abstract

AIM:

To evaluate the benefits of initiating insulin at an earlier versus later treatment stage, and regimens with/without sulfonylurea (SU).

METHODS:

Pooled analysis of 11 prospective randomized clinical trials, including 2171 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes initiating insulin glargine following a specific titration algorithm. Clinical outcomes were glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reduction, per cent achieving HbA1c ≤ 7.0%, weight gain and hypoglycaemic events. Statistical analysis compared outcomes 24 weeks after basal insulin initiation in patients previously uncontrolled on 0/1 oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) versus 2 OADs, and in patients taking metformin (MET) or SU alone or in combination at baseline. A meta-analysis was also conducted.

RESULTS:

For the pooled analysis, patients on 0/1 OAD and those on MET monotherapy at baseline had the largest 24-week reductions in HbA1c following the addition of insulin glargine (∼0.44 U/kg). Of patients failing MET/SU monotherapy and MET + SU in combination, 68.1, 50.4 and 56.4% achieved HbA1c ≤ 7.0%, respectively (p = 0.0006). Weight gain was lowest when basal insulin was added to MET. Patients on 0/1 OAD at baseline had significantly less symptomatic hypoglycaemia when basal insulin was added than those on 2 OADs (p = 0.0007). Despite higher insulin doses, those taking MET alone had less hypoglycaemia than those taking SU or MET + SU. Results were confirmed in the meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION:

Adding insulin glargine to MET monotherapy early in treatment may provide efficacy/safety benefits over regimens including SU. This may reflect treatment earlier in the disease and supports the inclusion of insulin as a second step in the American Diabetes Association/European Association for the Study of Diabetes treatment algorithm.

• Authors: V Fonseca, J Gill, R Zhou, J Leahy
• Journal: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism (Diabetes Obes Metab) Vol. 13 Issue 9 Pg. 814-22 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1463-1326 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21481127 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Glycated Hemoglobin A
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Insulin
• Insulin, Long-Acting
• Sulfonylurea Compounds
• Insulin Glargine
• Metformin

Topics

• Algorithms
• Blood Glucose (drug effects, physiology)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Glycated Hemoglobin (drug effects, physiology)
• Humans
• Hypoglycemia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Hypoglycemic Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Insulin (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Insulin Glargine
• Insulin, Long-Acting
• Male
• Metformin (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Sulfonylurea Compounds (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Treatment Outcome