Quality of Life in Japanese People with Type 2 Diabetes Switching from Multiple Daily Insulin Injections to Once-Daily iGlarLixi: SIMPLIFY Japan.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that iGlarLixi, a fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine 100 U/ml and lixisenatide, provides effective glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The SIMPLIFY Japan study assessed the impact of switching from multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) to once-daily iGlarLixi on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and glycemic parameters in Japanese people with moderately controlled T2D.

Methods: This 24-week, prospective, observational cohort study enrolled Japanese adults with T2D who switched from MDI therapy to iGlarLixi. Data were collected at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks; changes in Diabetes Therapy-Related Quality of Life (DTR-QOL) questionnaire score, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight and self-reported treatment adherence were evaluated; the primary endpoint was change in DTR-QOL at 24 weeks.

Results: Sixty-six participants were enrolled and 61 were included in the full analysis set. Significant improvements were observed in total DTR-QOL score from baseline to week 24 (mean change + 10.8 points; P < 0.001), with higher scores observed in individual domains related to social/daily activities, treatment satisfaction, and reductions in treatment-related anxiety (P < 0.05). A small HbA1c increase was noted at week 24 (P < 0.001), while this did not appear to adversely affect HRQOL or treatment satisfaction. A significant reduction in body weight was observed at week 12 (mean change - 0.7 kg; P = 0.046). Self-reported treatment adherence increased from baseline to week 24, with the proportion of participants who never missed an insulin injection increasing from 55.7 to 77.6%. At week 24, the incidence of hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal adverse events was 18.2 and 27.3%, respectively.

Conclusions: Switching from MDI to iGlarLixi therapy in Japanese people with T2D was associated with enhanced HRQOL (despite slight elevation in HbA1c) and improved treatment adherence, with a favorable safety profile. These findings support the beneficial role of iGlarLixi in the management of T2D in real-world Japanese clinical practice.

Study Registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT1041210151).