Insulin degludec/insulin aspart vs biphasic insulin aspart 30 twice daily in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) is a soluble combination of insulin degludec (70%) and insulin aspart (30%). The present exploratory trial investigated the safety of switching unit‐to‐unit from twice‐daily basal or pre‐mix insulin to twice‐daily IDegAsp in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this 6‐week, open‐label, parallel‐group, controlled trial, 66 participants were randomized (1:1) to receive either IDegAsp or biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp 30) twice daily at the same total daily dose as pre‐trial insulin. During the trial, insulin doses were adjusted according to a pre‐specified algorithm to achieve pre‐breakfast and pre‐dinner plasma glucose of 4.4–7.2 mmol/L. RESULTS: No severe hypoglycemic episodes occurred. There were no statistically significant differences in rates of confirmed hypoglycemia (rate ratio IDegAsp/BIAsp 30: 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.31–1.30) and confirmed nocturnal hypoglycemia (rate ratio: 0.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.10–2.38) for IDegAsp vs BIAsp 30. The hypoglycemia rate for IDegAsp was constant over the 6 weeks of treatment. IDegAsp and BIAsp 30 were both safe and well tolerated. Reduction in fasting plasma glucose was statistically significantly greater for IDegAsp than for BIAsp 30 (estimated treatment difference, IDegAsp‐BIAsp 30: −1.6 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval: −2.4 to −0.8). The apparent decrease in mean postprandial plasma glucose increment (IDegAsp: 4.2–3.8 mmol/L; BIAsp 30: 4.5–2.8 mmol/L) was not statistically significantly different between treatments (estimated treatment difference: 1.0 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval: −0.1 to 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Switching unit‐to‐unit from basal or pre‐mix insulin to IDegAsp seems not to be associated with any concerns related to hypoglycemia or general safety in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.