Levemir Improves BGs and Maintains Weight
German researchers say that data support evidence from clinical trials that insulin detemir (Levemir) improves blood glucose control, reduces hypoglycemic episodes and maintains weight neutrality in actual clinical practice.
PREDICTIVE (Predictable Results and Experience in Diabetes Through Intensification and Control to Target: An International Variability Evaluation) is one of the largest observational studies in diabetes to date. This multicenter study involving 10,276 patients (26 percent type 1, 73 percent type 2, 1 percent other classification) lasted 14.5 weeks after initiation of Levemir.
“[Blood glucose] control significantly improved during treatment, with mean A1C reduced by 0.54 percent and 0.89 percent in type 1 and 2 patients respectively,” write the researchers, who add that there was no associated weight gain in type 1 patients and a weight reduction in type 2 patients. “There were significant reductions at follow-up in type 1 and 2 patients for FBG (-33 mg/dl and -44 mg/dl respectively, for both).”
Too Many Type 2s Postponing Insulin Shots
Pfizer, Inc., announced the results of a study finding that many people with type 2 diabetes who should take insulin to improve blood glucose control often choose to avoid injections for four years or more, despite insulin’s proven effectiveness.
Source: Pfizer, Inc.
Algorithm Just as Effective as Carb Counting
Sanofi-Aventis presented results from a new study that found that a simple algorithm to adjust mealtime insulin based on pre-meal glucose patterns is just as effective as the more complex carbohydrate-counting method.
“The new algorithm may provide patients with an easier method to dose their mealtime insulin therapy,” says Sanofi-Aventis.
Two hundred seventy-three subjects participated in a 24-week study. The study compared the change in blood glucose control in subjects receiving glulisine (Apidra) as mealtime insulin following a variable bolus insulin regimen (based on carbohydrate counting) versus a fixed-bolus insulin regimen. Lantus was used as the long-acting insulin in both arms of the study.
A1C was significantly reduced in both arms of the study. The algorithm group received significantly higher doses of Apidra (110.2 U vs 94.3 U) and Lantus (103.4 U vs 87.0 U) had significantly less symptomatic hypoglycemia (4.9 versus 8.0 events) than the carbohydrate-counting group.