Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics, postprandial blood glucose excursions, and safety of insulin glulisine as compared with regular human insulin (RHI), both administered immediately before meals in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes.
Research design and methods: A total of 10 children (aged 5-11 years) and 10 adolescents (aged 12-17 years) were enrolled in a randomized, single-center, single-dose, double-blind, cross-over study. The blood glucose of fasting patients was stabilized with intravenous insulin, following which patients received 0.15 IU/kg of subcutaneously injected insulin glulisine or RHI 2 min before a weight-adjusted standardized liquid meal.
Results: For insulin glulisine versus RHI, maximum insulin concentrations (58 vs. 33 microIU/ml, P < 0.05) and initial insulin concentrations (insulin [area under the curve] AUC(0-2h) 5,232 vs. 2,994 microIU.min(-1).ml(-1), P < 0.05; data are geometric means) were higher after insulin glulisine than RHI. Both time to maximum insulin concentration (54 vs. 66 min) and mean residence time (88 vs. 137 min, P < 0.05) were shorter with insulin glulisine versus RHI. Postprandial glucose excursions after insulin glulisine were lower than after RHI (glucose AUC(0-6h) 641 vs. 801 mg.h(-1).dl(-1), P < 0.05). The pharmacokinetic profile for insulin glulisine was similar for children and adolescents, whereas the pharmacokinetic profile for RHI demonstrated a 64% higher concentration in adolescents. Insulin glulisine was safe and well tolerated.
Conclusions: The rapid-acting properties of insulin glulisine that have been previously demonstrated in adults are also observed in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Further, these initial data indicate that insulin glulisine is safe and well tolerated in this patient population.