Insulin degludec lowers nocturnal hypoglycaemia

The ultra-long-acting basal insulin analogue, insulin degludec, provides effective glycaemic control, while lowering the risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia, in patients with type 1 diabetes, a randomised trial has reported.

Of the 629 participants, 472 were randomly assigned to insulin degludec and 157 to insulin glargine. At one year, HbA_1c levels had fallen by 0.40% points in the degludec group, and 0.39% points in the glargine group.

Rates of overall confirmed hypoglycaemia and serious adverse events were similar in both groups, but confirmed nocturnal hypoglycaemia was 25% lower with degludec than with glargine.

Participants treated with insulin degludec were also using less basal, bolus and total insulin at the end of the study.

Lancet 2012; online 21 April