Special aspects of concentrated insulins: basic characteristics and research findings

The appearance of concentrated insulins in clinical practice determines the need to analyze product priorities in appropriate groups of patients with diabetes. The aim of this article is to summarize the literature on concentrated insulins (i.e. insulin lispro 200 units/mL, insulin degludec 200 units/mL, insulin glargine 300 units/mL) from randomized controlled trials, derive guidance on appropriate and safe use of these agents and demonstrate experience in real clinical practice. Severe hypoglycemia in all studies was generally low (though higher with prandial plus concentrated basal analogue therapy), and statistical improvements in other hypoglycemia categories were observed for concentrated basal insulins versus insulin glargine 100 units/mL. In all analyzed data hypoglycemic effect of insulin glargine 300 units/mL was equitable to insulin glargine 100 units/mL. Other important findings demonstrate more constant and prolonged insulin action with low within-subject/ between-day variability for insulin glargine 300 units/mL versus insulin glargine 100 units/mL, therefore, more physiological treatment might prevent from diabetic microvascular complications. The results of randomized trials are comparable with our clinical practice experience and indicate efficacious and safe glucose-lowering properties without risk of severe hypoglycemia.