October - 26 - 2009
Patients who add a basal or prandial insulin-based regimen to their oral therapy could achieve better glycated hemoglobin control than those who add a biphasic insulin-based regimen, new research suggests. This study randomly assigned 708 patients to receive either biphasic insulin aspart twice a day, prandial insulin three times a day, or basal insulin detemir once a day. The patients all had suboptimal blood sugar levels, and they were taking metformin and sulfonylurea therapy. Over the three-year study, patients gained weight in all three groups, but those in the basal insulin group experienced fewer hypoglycemic episodes and less weight gain. Median glycated hemoglobin levels were similar in all three groups; however, fewer patients in the biphasic group had levels of 6.5 percent or less than in other two groups.