Hypoglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Substituted with Insulin Degludec Aspart from Premixed Insulin Therapy: a Quasi Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether Insulin Degludec Aspart is associated with a reduced risk of hypoglycemia as compared to premixed Insulin aspart therapy in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi and Department of Medicine, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Sep to Dec 2021. Methodology: One hundred twenty participants with documented type 2 diabetes, taking premixed Insulin Aspart therapy, were enrolled in the study. The participants were divided into two groups. Group-A participants were continued on Premixed Insulin Aspart therapy, and Group-B participants were substituted with Insulin Degludec Aspart. The symptomatic hypoglycemic episodes were recorded for 12 weeks as confirmed hypoglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, and severe hypoglycemia. Results: Among the Premixed Insulin Aspart-Group, 49(81.6%) participants and in the Insulin Degludec Aspart-Group, 26(43.3%) participants reported 160 and 40 episodes of confirmed total hypoglycemia, respectively (p-value<0.001). 43(71.6%) participants in the Premixed Insulin Aspart-Group and 11(18.3%) participants in the Insulin Degludec Aspart-Group reported 73 and 12 episodes of confirmed nocturnal hypoglycemia, respectively (p-value<0.001). No severe hypoglycemic episodes were recorded in both groups after 12 weeks. Conclusion: The use of Degludec Aspart is associated with a reduced incidence of hypoglycemia, offering improved treatment compliance among the Pakistani population with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords

• Biphasic Insulin Aspart
• Glycemic Control
• Insulin Degludec Aspart
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus