Insulin degludec compared with insulin glargine in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes: A 26-week, randomized, controlled, Pan-Asian, treat-to-target trial

• Published in: Journal of diabetes investigation 2013-11, Vol.4 (6), p.605-612
• Main Authors: Onishi, Yukiko, Iwamoto, Yasuhiko, Yoo, Soon Jib, Clauson, Per, Tamer, Søren C, Park, Sungwoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asian; Clinical Trial; Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Insulin degludec; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 2040-1116; 2040-1124
• DOI: 10.1111/jdi.12102

Introduction Insulin degludec (IDeg) is an ultra‐long‐acting basal insulin with a consistent action profile of >42 h. This trial compared the efficacy and safety of IDeg with insulin glargine (IGlar) in insulin‐naïve Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods In this multinational, 26‐week, open‐label, treat‐to‐target trial, 435 participants (202 females, 233 males; mean age 58.6 years; mean body mass index 25 kg/m2; mean glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] 8.5%) were randomized (2:1) to IDeg or IGlar, each administered once daily with ≥1 oral antidiabetic drug(s) (OAD). Results After 26 weeks, HbA1c had decreased by 1.24 and 1.35% in the IDeg and IGlar groups, respectively (treatment difference [IDeg – IGlar] 0.11%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.03 to 0.24), confirming non‐inferiority. Rates of overall confirmed hypoglycemia were similar for IDeg and IGlar during the full trial period (3.0 vs 3.7 episodes/patient‐year of exposure [PYE]; rate ratio [RR] 0.82, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.11, P = 0.20), but significantly lower (by 37%) for IDeg during the maintenance period (from week 16 onward; RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.94, P = 0.02). No significant difference in the rate of nocturnal confirmed hypoglycemia was found between IDeg and IGlar in the full trial period (0.8 vs 1.2 episodes/PYE; RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.04, P = 0.07) or maintenance period (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.00, P = 0.05). Adverse event rates were similar between treatments. Conclusions Initiating insulin therapy with IDeg in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes, inadequately controlled with OADs, provides similar improvements in long‐term glycemic control to IGlar, but at a significantly lower rate of overall confirmed hypoglycemia once stable glycemic control and insulin dosing are achieved. This trial was registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (no. NCT01059799).