Study Examines Insulin Therapies

Data from the INITIATE (INITiation of Insulin to reach A1c TargEt) study revealed that Novo Nordisk's NovoLog Mix 70/30 (70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin aspart injection [rDNA origin]), a dual-action insulin analog without neutral protamine Hagedorn, showed improved blood glucose lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that NovoLog Mix 70/30 is more effective in helping patients who are starting insulin therapy to achieve control of their blood glucose levels, compared with insulin glargine.

The study examined insulin-na ïve patients whose blood glucose levels were not being controlled with oral diabetes medications (A1c levels >8%). After 28 weeks, 66% of patients taking NovoLog Mix 70/30 achieved levels of 7%, compared with 40% in the insulin glargine group. In fact, 42% of patients taking NovoLog Mix 70/30 reached an A1c of ≤6.5%, compared with 28% taking glargine. (The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association.)