Thrice-a-week insulin shot on the horizon

In what can be termed as an incremental step forward in the treatment of diabetes, a new study found a long lasting insulin drug degludec, injected three times a week, just as effective as a daily jab for controlling blood sugar.

According to researchers, degludec gets absorbed very slowly after being injected and has the potential to manage blood glucose and lower the risk of hypoglycaemia as well as glargine injections, an existing form of insulin to control blood sugar.

Dr. Yogish C. Kudva and Dr. Ananda Basu, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA, stated, "Doses given three times a week might improve adherence, improve glycaemic control without an increase in hypoglycaemia, and cause less disruption to the patient's lifestyle.

“The presumption here is if you use a medication less frequently, then people are more likely to take it and remember it, especially as we multitask and try to do so many things every day."

Clinical trial involving 245 patients
In order to examine the safety and efficacy of treatment with insulin degludec, the researchers conducted a clinical trial for a period of 16 weeks.

They enrolled 245 patients aged 18 to 75 years with type 2 diabetes and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of seven to 11 percent.

The study subjects were treated in 28 clinics in Canada, India, South Africa, and the United States.

As a part of the study, the participants were randomly assigned to receive insulin degludec either once a day or three times a week, or insulin gargline daily.

Findings of the study
At the close of the study, it was noted that blood sugar levels were the same for all treatment groups, with HbA1c ranging from 7.2 to 7.5 percent.

In addition, it was noted that rates of hypoglycemia were low in all treatment groups but they were least in those who took degludec once a day.

The study found five percent of the patient swho took degludec daily experienced symptomatic episodes of low blood sugar as opposed to 13 percent of patients who took degludec thrice a week or those assigned to glargine once a day.

Lead researcher, Dr. Bernard Zinman of the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto stated, "Because of its ultra-long action profile, insulin degludec injected three times weekly appears to provide similar glucose control to insulin glargine once daily.

"This new basal insulin analogue might be a valuable addition to clinical practice...However the safety, efficacy, and optimum use of treatment regimens for insulin degludec will need to be established in larger phase 3 trials."

The study funded by Novo Nordisk, a manufacturer of degludec was published in 'The Lancet.'