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Achieving Glycaemic Control with Concentrated Insulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

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A Correction to this article was published on 13 March 2019

A Correction to this article was published on 31 January 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

The recent introduction of the second-generation long-acting analogue insulins degludec and insulin glargine U300 have increased the choice of basal insulin therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of these insulins result in a flatter profile that lasts over 24 h and provides an increased window of administration of 6 h once daily. Large-scale multicentre randomised clinical trial programmes (BEGIN for degludec U100 and U200 and EDITION for glargine U300) evaluating these insulin therapies against glargine U100 have demonstrated that they are either non-inferior or superior for glycaemic efficacy and safety, but less likely to result in severe or nocturnal hypoglycaemia than glargine U100. The disposable pen devices for these insulins have been designed with patient satisfaction and convenience in mind. No concerns have arisen with adverse events with insulin analogues or cardiovascular safety from the ORIGIN and DEVOTE trials. As they demonstrate equivalent glycaemic efficacy to other basal insulins, they should be considered more in selected patient groups including those with recurrent or increased risk of hypoglycaemia, especially severe or nocturnal episodes, in the elderly or those living alone, and in patients with multiple co-morbidities such as cardiovascular or renal disease.

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Change history

  • 31 January 2019

    Page 7, Section 4.1, third paragraph, which previously read:

  • 13 March 2019

    In several sections of this review article, insulin degludec U100 has been incorrectly referred to as a highly concentrated basal insulin. Although data for both the U100 and U200 formulations of insulin degludec are presented, only insulin degludec U200 and insulin glargine U300 should be referred to as highly concentrated basal insulins.

  • 13 March 2019

    In several sections of this review article, insulin degludec U100 has been incorrectly referred to as a highly concentrated basal insulin. Although data for both the U100 and U200 formulations of insulin degludec are presented, only insulin degludec U200 and insulin glargine U300 should be referred to as highly concentrated basal insulins.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support from the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care—East Midlands (NIHR CLAHRC—EM), the Leicester Clinical Trials Unit and the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, which is a partnership between University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Loughborough University and the University of Leicester. No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this article.

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Correspondence to Sudesna Chatterjee.

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SC has received speaker fees or educational funding, or both, from Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim and grants in support of investigator initiated trials from Boehringer Ingelheim and Janssen. KK has acted as a consultant and speaker for AstraZeneca, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Janssen, and Boehringer Ingelheim, has received grants in support of investigator and investigator-initiated trials from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Roche, and has served on advisory boards for AstraZeneca, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Janssen, and Boehringher Ingelheim. MJD reports personal fees from Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals International and grants from Novo Nordisk, Sanofi- Aventis, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Janssen.

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The ​original ​version ​of ​this ​article ​was ​revised: Due to Section 4.1 third paragraph update.

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Chatterjee, S., Khunti, K. & Davies, M.J. Achieving Glycaemic Control with Concentrated Insulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Drugs 79, 173–186 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-018-1048-6

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