In a nutshell
This study compared the risk of severe hypoglycemia (an abnormally low blood sugar level) between patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) taking human insulin and synthetic insulin substitutes (insulin analogues).
Some background
Patients with T1DM do not produce insulin from the pancreas. Therefore, in order to use blood sugar as energy, these patients must replace their lack of insulin with injections of human insulin or synthetic insulin. Synthetic insulin is a form of insulin made in the laboratory. An important side effect from insulin treatment is hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can cause mild discomfort and symptoms like sweating, trembling or hunger, up to severe episodes which can lead to coma or even death.
Methods & findings
This study included 3861 T1DM patients treated with either human insulin, insulin analogues or mixed regimens. Patients were asked to fill a questionnaire regarding hypoglycemia episodes. Severe hypoglycemia was defined in this study as an episode in which the help of another person was needed to restore the patient to normal functioning. Patients were asked if they were able to recognize their hypoglycemia episodes before they were admitted into the study. The study results revealed that long-acting insulin analogues were more likely to cause severe hypoglycemia than long acting human insulin. However, short-acting insulin analogues caused less hypoglycemia episodes compared to short-acting human insulin in T1DM patients.
The bottom line
In this study, T1DM patients treated with long-acting insulin analogues had more frequent episodes of mild or severe hypoglycemia compared to patients treated with long-acting human insulin.
The fine print
This study looks back at patients who have been treated in the past (retrospective study) rather than following the patients throughout their treatment and determining their outcomes (prospective study). Retrospective studies are considered to provide weak statistical evidence.
What’s next?
If you experience frequent hypoglycemia episodes, talk to your doctor about optimizing your T1DM treatment.
Published By :
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Date :
Dec 01, 2011
