Therapeutic effect and safety of nateglinide combined with insulin glargine in treatment of elder patients with type 2 diabetes

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nateglinide combined with insulin glargine in treatment of elder patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Sixty elder patients over 70 a with type 2 diabetes under unsatisfied blood glucose control were divided into 2 groups. Thirty patients (M 23, F 7; age (77±s 11) a) in the trial group were treated by nateglinide with insulin glargine injection. The other 30 patients (M 24, F 6; age (78±10) a) in the control group were treated by mixed protamine zinc recombinant human insulin injection. Both groups were under treatment for 8 wk as a course, with the values of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) before and after the treatment as well as adverse reactions. RESULTS: After treatment, the levels of FBG, 2hPG, and HbA1c in trial and control groups decreased (1.8±1.2) vs (1.8±1.3) mmol·L-1, respectively, while 2hPG decreased (3.9±1.2) vs (3.8±1.2) mmol·L-1 and HbA1c (1.2±0.9) % vs (1.2±1.0) %, respectively; showing significant difference in comparison with those before the treatment (P 0.01), but with no significant difference between the two groups (P 0.05). The main adverse reaction was hypoglycemia, with 5 in trial group and 19 in control group (P 0.01). CONCLUSION: Nateglinide with insulin glargine can control the blood glucose effectively in elder patients with type 2 diabetes possessing low incidence of hypoglycemia and high safety accompanied by simple and easy way in application.