Insulin and glucose profiles during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion compared with injection of a long-acting insulin in Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: To compare insulin and glucose profiles during basal continuous subcutaneous infusion of a rapid-acting insulin analogue and once daily subcutaneous injection of a long-acting insulin analogue in Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with oral glucose-lowering agents were randomized in this two-period crossover study to an equivalent 24-h dose of continuous subcutaneous infusion of insulin aspart and subsequently once-daily bedtime subcutaneous injection of insulin glargine, or vice versa, for eight consecutive days. Plasma profiles of insulin and glucose were recorded. RESULTS: On the last day of each treatment period, the area under the curve (AUC) for glucose was 10% lower on the continuous subcutaneous infusion regimen compared with the insulin injection regimen (P = 0.002). This was accomplished by a flat exogenous insulin infusion profile compared with a peaking profile with injected insulin (AUC was 74% higher after injection compared with pre-injection levels (P = 0.001)). During the last 6 days in each treatment period, the intra-subject variability of exogenous fasting insulin levels in the mornings was 41% lower during insulin infusion compared with insulin injection (P = 0.012). The corresponding intra-subject variability for fasting glucose only showed a tendency to be lower during infusion as compared to the injection regimen (28%; P = 0.104). Thirteen symptomatic-only or minor hypoglycaemic episodes were recorded during the entire infusion period compared with three episodes during the injection period. CONCLUSIONS: Basal continuous subcutaneous infusion of a rapid-acting insulin analogue improved plasma insulin (more flat insulin profile with a lower variability) and glucose (lower AUC) profiles compared with once-daily subcutaneous injection of a long-acting insulin analogue in Type 2 diabetes.

Overnight CSII as supplement to oral antidiabetic drugs in type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To evaluate the potential advantages of a constant overnight subcutaneous delivery of insulin in type 2 diabetic patients who fail to achieve glycaemic control on oral antidiabetics. METHODS: Ten type 2 diabetic patients treated with oral antidiabetic drugs without gaining sufficient glycaemic control were included in this three-period study. All patients received continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) with a short-acting insulin analogue, 2 IU/h, for 8 h during three consecutive nights (period A). Based upon the results from period A, two additional dose regimens of three nights (period B and C) were studied in random order. Serum insulin aspart, human insulin and plasma glucose (PG) profiles were recorded. RESULTS: In period A, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was reduced from a mean +/- s.d. (mmol/l) value of 11.6 +/- 2.9 to 5.5 +/- 1.6 (p < 0.0001) during the first night. No additional lowering of FPG was seen the two succeeding nights. FPG narrowed as the range before the infusion was 7.3-15.2 mmol/l compared with 3.6-6.1 mmol/l on the last morning after infusion. The variability in PG profile during the first and the last night of CSII was small and not significantly different. The rising insulin aspart was mirrored by a decrease in human insulin. In period B and C, similar tendencies as for period A were seen. In period A, two patients each experienced one mild hypoglycaemic episode. CONCLUSIONS: CSII with an insulin analogue overnight effectively reduced FPG without occurrence of major hypoglycaemia in type 2 diabetic patients who fail to achieve glycaemic control on oral antidiabetic treatment.