New Ultralong-Acting Basal Insulin Lowers Risk for Overnight Hypoglycemia

Fear of hypoglycemia, a potentially serious adverse effect of insulin treatment in type 1 and advanced type 2 diabetes, can deter aggressive glycemic control. Some nocturnal hypoglycemia could be related to fluctuating levels of current basal insulins. Insulin degludec is a new ultralong-acting insulin that has not yet been approved by the U.S. FDA; its half-life is >25 hours, which is double that of insulin glargine (Lantus). Researchers conducted two industry-sponsored 1-year randomized noninferiority trials –– that involved 629 patients with type 1 diabetes and 744 patients with advanced type 2 diabetes — in which insulin degludec was compared with insulin glargine in basal-bolus insulin regimens. In both trials, a treat-to-target design…