Comparison of insulin glargine 300 U/mL and insulin degludec using flash glucose monitoring: A randomized cross-over study

Abstract

Aims/introduction: We compared the efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla300) and insulin degludec U100 (Deg) using a flash glucose monitoring system.

Materials and methods: A total of 24 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive once-daily Gla300 (n = 12) or Deg (n = 12) in the morning. The primary end-points were the mean percentage of time in the target glucose range (70-179 mg/dL) and hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL), as measured using flash glucose monitoring during the last 7 days of each 14-day period.

Results: The percentages of time with glucose levels <70 mg/dL were not significantly different between the two insulin treatments. No significant differences were observed in the percentages of time with glucose levels of 70-179 mg/dL or ≥180 mg/dL. The percentage of time with nocturnal hypoglycemia with Gla300 was significantly lower than that with Deg treatment (P = 0.021). This difference might be attributable to the difference in the duration of action between the two formulations, and the incidence of nocturnal hypoglycemia with Deg treatment was associated with the concomitant use of metformin (P = 0.035).

Conclusions: The two formulations were comparable in efficacy, whereas the incidence of nocturnal hypoglycemia was significantly lower with Gla300. Thus, the present study suggests that, although Gla300 and Deg are comparable long-acting insulin analogs, Gla300 is safer with respect to the incidence of hypoglycemia.

Keywords: Flash glucose monitoring; Insulin degludec; Insulin glargine 300 U/mL.