Switching from Premixed Insulin To Basal Insulin Analogue For Type 2 Diabetes and Role of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors.

Introduction: This study aimed to confirm the usefulness of basal insulin analogue plus oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) for type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients inadequately controlled with premixed insulin with/without OADs and assess the role of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors within this regimen in clinical practice.

Methods: Spanish retrospective observational study that included 186 T2D patients with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >7% (53 mmol/mol) despite premixed insulin with/without OADs who had been switched to basal insulin analogue plus OADs. Study data describing the situation before the treatment switch and 6 months later was retrospectively retrieved from patients' medical charts.

Results: Switching to a basal insulin plus OADs decreased HbA1c (-1.0%, p<0.001), fasting (-38.1 mg/dl, p<0.001) and postprandial glycemia (-36.1 mg/dl, p<0.001), with reduced body weight (-1.1 kg, p<0.001) and hypoglycemic episodes (-17.5%, p<0.001). 68 (36.6%) patients received a basal insulin plus DPP-4 inhibitor±metformin and 74 (39.8%) plus metformin only. The DPP-4 inhibitor±metformin group showed a greater HbA1c reduction than the metformin group (1.3±1.4% vs. 0.9±1.0%, p=0.022), with no significant differences between groups in hypoglycemic episodes.

Conclusions: Basal insulin analogue plus OADs may be a useful treatment for type 2 diabetes patients inadequately controlled with premixed insulin. Administering DPP-4 inhibitors within this regimen may contribute to improve patients' glycemia, with a favorable weight-change profile and without increasing hypoglycemia risk.