Diabetes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Diabetes, including details on insulin, type i, type ii, diet, treatment, prevention.

Insulin glargine improves glycemic control and health-related quality of life in type 1 diabetes.

Manini R, Forlani G, Moscatiello S, Zannoni C, Marzocchi R, Marchesini G

Unit of Metabolic Disease, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, S. Orsola Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Glargine improves glucose control and reduces the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia compared with neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin. To date, only one study has measured the effects of glargine on health-related quality of life (HRQL); the aim of this study was therefore to confirm the beneficial effects of glargine on disease-specific HRQL in type 1 diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (mean age, 46 range, 25-74; males, 54%) with diabetes of at least 1-year duration, and with suboptimal glucose control under intensive insulin treatment (IIT), were switched from NPH to glargine. Forty patients maintained on IIT were used as controls. Diabetes-related HRQL was assessed using the Well-being Enquiry for Diabetics (WED), before and after a 6- to 8-month switch to glargine. An 11-item questionnaire based upon diabetes-specific issues was used to assess treatment satisfaction and perceived changes after switching. On glargine, the mean glycosylated hemoglobin decreased by 0.7% (treatment vs. baseline, P<0.0001) and several WED scores improved (discomfort, P=0.020; impact, P=0.0002; total score, P=0.0005). WED changes were associated with a lower perceived risk of hypoglycemia and less problems in daily life on glargine. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that the beneficial effect of glargine is not limited to better metabolic control; the burden of type 1 diabetes mellitus on everyday life is also reduced.

Published 6 August 2007 in Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis, 17(7): 493-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Diabetes Research Today. All Rights Reserved.