A comparison of insulin detemir and insulin NPH for treatment of pregnant women with diabetes

This study compared insulin detemir (Levemir) and insulin NPH (Novolin N, Novolin NPH, Humulin N) for the treatment of pregnant women with gestational or type 2 diabetes. 

Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes are managed similarly in pregnant women. Insulin tends to be the first choice of treatment for pregnant women with diabetes. However, studies comparing different types of insulin treatment are lacking.

Two types of insulin being used to treat diabetes are insulin detemir and insulin NPH. Studies in non-pregnant diabetes patients have shown that insulin detemir is as effective as insulin NPH, with less low blood sugar events (an unwanted side effect of treatment).

This study compared insulin detemir and insulin NPH treatment of gestational and type 2 diabetes in 87 pregnant women. 42 women were treated with insulin detemir and 45 were treated with insulin NPH. Patients were educated on how to treat themselves with insulin. Blood glucose (sugar) measuring kits were provided for patients to use in the home.

No significant difference was found between the average blood glucose levels of women treated with insulin detemir (109.5 mg/dl) and women treated with insulin NPH (107.4 mg/dl). However, insulin NPH patients had a higher average of low blood sugar events (2.27 per patient) than insulin detemir patients (0.67 per patient).

There was no significant difference in weight gain observed between the two groups (insulin detemir: 27.7 pounds, insulin NPH: 28.6 pounds). Similarly, no significant difference was found between the health status of babies born to women being treated with insulin NPH and women being treated with insulin detemir. 

The authors concluded that insulin detemir is as good as insulin NPH in the treatment of pregnant women with gestational or type 2 diabetes.

6 patients who started the study dropped out due to an allergic rash in reaction to insulin detemir.

Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and you would like to discuss your treatment options for gestational or type 2 diabetes.