Long-term glycemic control in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients after switching treatment from twice-daily premixed insulin to once daily insulin glargine.

Objective: To examine the clinical utility of once-daily insulin glargine, we studied the clinical course of patients who were switched to from twice-daily premixed insulin to once daily insulin glargine.

Methods: The study was conducted at Tokai University hospital in 20 patients with type 2 diabetes, whose treatment regimens were switched from twice-a-day premixed insulin formulation to once-a-day insulin glargine. Changes in various clinical indexes were studied during a 3-year period after the switch. We also compared the well-controlled group (hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, levels maintained at less than 6.9%) and poorly-controlled group (HbA1c levels at 7.4% or higher).

Results: During the 3-year period, all patients showed significant decrease in HbA1c levels and tendency for reduced daily dose of insulin. Although both BMI and insulin dose tended to decrease in the well-controlled group, they increased in the poorly controlled group.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that in type 2 diabetes, once-a-day insulin glargine could be more useful than twice-a-day premixed insulin formulation. Poor adherence was observed in the poorly-controlled group, namely lack of thoroughness in self-monitoring of blood glucose and adherence to diet and exercise therapy, thus emphasizing the importance of diabetes education.