Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of basal insulin combined with metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of three kinds of treatment by using insulin glargine(Lantus1,Sanofi-Aventis),recombinant insulin glargine(Basalin,Ganli)or human NPH(Novolin N,Novo nordisk)which were combined with metformin in T2DM with poorly controlled by oralantidiabetic drugs.Methods 63 cases of T2DM were assigned into three groups for basal insulin therapy at bedtime:human NPH insulin group(n=23),insulin glargine group(n=20)and recombinant insulin glargine group(n=20).Three groups were combined with metformin.The fasting blood glucose,insulin dose and incidence of hypoglycemia during hospitalization were observed.Results After treatment,The of fasting blood glucose of three groups decreased significantly(P0.05),but there was no significant difference among them.Comparing insulin dose/weight(U/kg)when discharged from hospital,the dose in insulin glargine group was similar to that of the recombinant insulin glargine group,but the dose in the recombinant insulin glargine group was significantly more than that of the NPH group(P=0.017).The incidence of hypoglycemic episodes in the glargine groups was significantly lower than that of the NPH group.Conclusion The efficacy and safety are similar between the treatment by using insulin glargine and recombinant insulin glargine which are combined with metformin in T2DM with poorly controlled by oralantidiabetic drugs.Short-term efficacy of insulin glargine is similar to NPH.Bedtime injection of glargine is safer than NPH.