Efficacy of Insulin Glargine on Basal Insulin Supplementation in Japanese Type 1 Diabetes Patients Treated with Basal-bolus Injection Therapy

Abstract

To clarify the efficacy of the long acting insulin analog glargine on basal insulin supplementation, we studied daily insulin dose, basal or bolus insulin dose, blood glucose control, and weight change before and after conversion from NPH insulin to glargine in 23 type 1 diabetes outpatients treated with basal-bolus injection therapy.
In those whose ratio of basal to total insulin dose were relatively low, i.e., 34.9%, both daily basal insulin doses and ratios of basal insulin increased significantly and blood glucose control improved after conversion.
Since the amount of basal insulin was comparatively less in patients treated with regular human insulin as bolus, basal insulin doses were increased after conversion, significantly improving their blood glucose control.
HbA₁c in those treated with twice-a-day injections of glargine was significantly lower than in those undergoing once-a-day injection therapy, even at the same basal insulin doses.
In conclusion, glargine has an advantage over NPH as a basal insulin derivative in basal-bolus injection therapy in type 1 diabetes patients.