2196-PUB: The Influence of Insulin Degludec on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Regulation and Patient Quality of Life Compared with Insulin Glargine in Low-Income Patients

Abstract

Background: Insulin glargine is a well known long-acting insulin analog in the contemporary treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A new long-acting, but more expensive insulin, degludec, shows greater duration compared to already existing long-acting insulins. Aim: The aim of the study is to examine the effect of insulin degludec on T2DM glycaemic control and patient quality of life in low-income patients compared with insulin glargine. Material and Methods: 116 T2DM patients were enrolled in the study. 41 were insulin naïve treated with degludec (Group A), 40 were insulin naïve treated with insulin glargine (Group B) and 36 patients who were on glargine without satisfactory glycemic control were treated with degludec instead of glargine (Group C). Three and six months later, their glycemic control, insulin units, quality of life (SF-36), as well as flexibility in insulin use were assessed. All patients answered the PHQ-9 questionnaire Results: The mean HbA1c for all patients was 8.42±1.23 (p=0.251). The reduction in HbA1c was similar between the three groups (p=0.182). Hypoglycemias became less frequent after the transition from insulin glargine to degludec (p=0.059). Patients in Group A showed less hypoglycemias in 3 months (p=0.036) and six months (p=0.033). Hypoglycemias were significantly reduced for Group B after the first 3 months (p=0.087). All three groups showed a significant improvement in quality of life but patients in Group A achieved the better score in physical (56.2±10.6 vs. 50.8±9.7 vs. 52.7±10.4, p=0.059) and mental (46.2±8.4 vs. 42.5±7.7 vs. 44.5±8.5, p=0.064) health summary compared to Group B and C respectively. Patients in Group A used fewer units compared to Group B and Group C (p=0.067)). Conclusion: The use of degludec is associated with a lower rate of hypoglycemias and a good quality of life while many patients availed themselves of the possibility of degludec insulin’s flexible use. Disclosure A. Koutsovasilis: None. A. Sotiropoulos: None. M. Pappa: None. S. Bousboulas: None. T. Peppas: None.