Study Examines Insulin Therapies

Data from the INITIATE (INITiation of Insulin to reach A1cTargEt) study revealed that Novo Nordisk's NovoLog Mix 70/30(70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulinaspart injection [rDNA origin]), a dual-action insulin analog withoutneutral protamine Hagedorn, showed improved blood glucoselowering in patients with type 2 diabetes. The researchersfound that NovoLog Mix 70/30 is more effective in helpingpatients who are starting insulin therapy to achieve control oftheir blood glucose levels, compared with insulin glargine.

The study examined insulin-na ïve patients whose bloodglucose levels were not being controlled with oral diabetesmedications (A1c levels >8%). After 28 weeks, 66% ofpatients 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 A1cof ≤6.5%, compared with 28% taking glargine. (The findingswere presented at the annual meeting of the American DiabetesAssociation.)