Horm Metab Res 2003; 35(7): 434-438
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-41625
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Comparison of the Subcutaneous Absorption of Insulin Glargine (Lantus®) and NPH Insulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

S.  D.  Luzio1 , P.  Beck1 , D.  R.  Owens1
  • 1Diabetes Research Unit, Llandough Hospital and Community NHS Trust, Penlan Road, Penarth, Cardiff, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Received 1 October 2002

Accepted after Revision 10 February 2003

Publication Date:
21 August 2003 (online)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the subcutaneous absorption characteristics of insulin glargine with NPH insulin in patients with Type 2 diabetes. In this single-dose, double-blind, randomized, two-way crossover study, 14 patients with Type 2 diabetes (aged 40 - 70 years) previously untreated with insulin were randomized to receive in a fasting state either a single subcutaneous injection of 0.3 U/kg 125I-insulin glargine or 0.3 U/kg 125I-NPH insulin. The disappearance of radioactivity was monitored for forty-eight hours. The median time for 25 %, 50 % and 75 % of the radioactivity to disappear from the injection site was significantly longer for insulin glargine compared with NPH insulin (T75 % 15.0 and 6.5 h, p = 0.009; T50 % 26.3 and 13.4 h, p = 0.009; T25 % 42.4 and 26.6 h, p = 0.019, respectively). The mean residual radioactivity remaining at 24, 36 and 48 h after injection remained significantly higher than NPH insulin (54.4 and 27.9 %, p = 0.0001; 35.0 and 17.0 %, p = 0.003; 19.2 and 9.2 %, p = 0.01, respectively). Mean plasma glucose levels reached a minimum after 14.6 and 9 h in response to insulin glargine and NPH insulin, respectively. The subcutaneous absorption of insulin glargine in fasting Type 2 diabetes patients was significantly (2 - 3 times) slower compared with NPH insulin in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The slower absorption of insulin glargine correlated with the fall in plasma glucose levels over a 24 h period compared with the faster insulin absorption and more rapid decrease in plasma glucose levels observed in response to NPH insulin. Both insulin glargine and NPH insulin were well tolerated.

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S. Luzio

Diabetes Research Unit · Llandough Hospital and Community NHS Trust

Penlan Road · Penarth · Cardiff · UK

Phone: +44(2920)716-927

Fax: +44(2920)350-147

Email: Luzio@Cardiff.ac.uk