Safety and efficacy of insulin glargine (HOE 901) versus NPH insulin in combination with oral treatment in Type 2 diabetic patients

Aims A European, randomized, 29‐centre, open‐label study compared the safety and efficacy of two formulations of insulin glargine and neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) human insulin, in combination with oral agents, in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods Two‐hundred‐and‐four patients with Type 2 DM, in whom oral treatment alone was inadequate, were randomized to insulin glargine with 30 µg/ml zinc [insulin glargine (30)], or insulin glargine with 80 µg/ml zinc [insulin glargine (80)] or NPH insulin subcutaneously once daily. Insulin was titrated to aim for fasting blood glucose (FBG) values between 4 and 7 mmol/l. All participants received oral therapy during the 3‐week titration phase and 1‐week maintenance phase of the trial. Results No differences between treatment groups were observed in adjusted mean fasting plasma glucose; significant decreases of 3.4 mmol/l, 3.5 mmol/l and 3.1 mmol/l were observed within the insulin glargine (30), insulin glargine (80) and NPH insulin groups, respectively ( P  < 0.0001 in each case). No differences between groups, but significant changes within groups, were observed in self‐monitored FBG, mean FBG, blood glucose profile, stability of FBG, nocturnal blood glucose, fasting serum C‐peptide, non‐esterified fatty acids, haemoglobin A 1c , fructosamine and fasting serum insulin. A significantly greater proportion of NPH insulin patients experienced symptomatic nocturnal hypoglycaemia (19.1 NPH group vs. 7.3% glargine groups; P  = 0.0123). Both insulins were well tolerated; one patient in each group experienced an injection site reaction. Conclusions Insulin glargine is as safe and effective as NPH insulin given once daily and in this study caused fewer episodes of nocturnal hypoglycaemia. Diabet. Med. 20, 545–551 (2003)