Comparison of the soluble basal insulin analog insulin detemir with NPH insulin - A randomized open crossover trial in type 1 diabetic subjects on basal-bolus therapy
K. Hermansen et al., Comparison of the soluble basal insulin analog insulin detemir with NPH insulin - A randomized open crossover trial in type 1 diabetic subjects on basal-bolus therapy, DIABET CARE, 24(2), 2001, pp. 296-301
OBJECTIVE- Insulin detemir (NN304) is a soluble basal insulin analog develo
ped to cover basal insulin requirements. This trial aimed to compare the bl
ood glucose-lowering effect of insulin detemir with that of NPH insulin (NP
H) and to evaluate the two treatments with regard to intrasubject variation
of fasting blood glucose, incidence of hypoglycemia, dose requirements. an
d safety.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- This multicenter open randomized crossover tri
al in 59 type 1 diabetic subjects comprised a 2-week run-in period on a bas
al-bolus regimen with NPH insulin once dairy, followed by two 6-week period
s of optimized basal-bolus therapy with either once-daily insulin detemir o
r NPH insulin.
RESULTS- The area under the curve, in the time interval 23:00-8:00, derived
from 24-h serum glucose profiles, nas not statistically significantly diff
erent for the two treatment periods (insulin detemir:NPH ratio 89.2:83.5, P
= 0.59). The intrasubject variation in fasting blood glucose during the la
st 4 days of treatment was lower for insulin detemir compared with NPH (P <
0.001). Mean dose requirements of insulin detemir were 2.35 times higher (
95% CI 2.22-2.48) compared with NPH. During the last week of treatment, few
er subjects experienced hypoglycemic episodes on insulin detemir (60%) comp
ared with NPH treatment (77%) (P = 0.049).
CONCLUSIONS- Insulin detemir was as effective as NPH in maintaining glycemi
c control when administered at a higher molar dose. The results indicate th
at insulin detemir may provide more predictable fasting blood glucose with
lower intrasubject variation and reduced risk of hypoglycemia compared with
NPH.