Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to confirm the usefulness of basal insulin analogue plus oral antidiabetic
drugs (OADs) for type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients inadequately controlled with premixed
insulin with/without OADs and assess the role of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
within this regimen in clinical practice.
Methods Spanish retrospective observational study that included 186 T2D patients with glycosylated
hemoglobin (HbA1c) >7% (53 mmol/mol) despite premixed insulin with/without OADs who
had been switched to basal insulin analogue plus OADs. Study data describing the situation
before the treatment switch and 6 months later was retrospectively retrieved from
patients’ medical charts.
Results Switching to a basal insulin plus OADs decreased HbA1c (−1.0%, p<0.001), fasting
(−38.1 mg/dl, p<0.001) and postprandial glycemia (−36.1 mg/dl, p<0.001), with reduced
body weight (−1.1 kg, p<0.001) and hypoglycemic episodes (−17.5%, p<0.001). 68 (36.6%)
patients received a basal insulin plus DPP-4 inhibitor±metformin and 74 (39.8%) plus
metformin only. The DPP-4 inhibitor±metformin group showed a greater HbA1c reduction
than the metformin group (1.3±1.4% vs. 0.9±1.0%, p=0.022), with no significant differences
between groups in hypoglycemic episodes.
Conclusions Basal insulin analogue plus OADs may be a useful treatment for type 2 diabetes patients
inadequately controlled with premixed insulin. Administering DPP-4 inhibitors within
this regimen may contribute to improve patients’ glycemia, with a favorable weight-change
profile and without increasing hypoglycemia risk.
Key words
antidiabetic drugs - basal insulin - dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors - premixed
insulin - type 2 diabetes mellitus