Biphasic Insulin Aspart-30 Reduces Glycemic Variability to a Greater Degree Than Insulin Detemir: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Once-daily Insulin Regimens Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Introduction: We compared the efficacy of insulin detemir and biphasic insulin aspart-30 given in the morning as an add-on to oral hypoglycemic agents in type 2 diabetes patients.

Materials And Methods: The present study enrolled 30 patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (8% ≤ glycated hemoglobin < 11%) being treated with oral hypoglycemic agent mono- or combination therapy with biguanides, sulfonylureas or thiazolidinediones. The patients were randomly assigned to insulin detemir (group D) or insulin aspart-30 (group A) given in the morning as add-on to oral hypoglycemic agents. After adjusting their insulin doses, the patients that underwent continuous glucose monitoring during a 3-day hospitalization and with day 2 continuous glucose monitoring data were subjected to analysis.

Results: There was no significant difference in patient background, baseline glycated hemoglobin levels and insulin doses during continuous glucose monitoring between the two groups. The percent coefficient of variation of 24-h glucose levels was significantly lower in group A (20.4 ± 7.6) than in group D (27.1 ± 6.5; P = 0.015). Similarly, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions was significantly smaller in group A (80 ± 32) than in group D (102 ± 14; P = 0.021). Postprandial glucose excursions were significantly smaller after breakfast in group A (65 ± 31 mg/dL) than in group D (106 ± 32 mg/dL; P = 0.002).

Conclusions: As once-daily insulin injection therapy given before breakfast in type 2 diabetes patients, the biphasic insulin analog might represent a better insulin option in significantly lowering the percent coefficient of variation and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions than the long-acting insulin preparation.