Diabetics could be spared pain of daily jab
Diabetics could be spared pain of daily jab
Daily injections of insulin for diabetics could soon be replaced by jabs needed only three times a week.
A longer-acting form of insulin, called degludec, works as well as once-a-day medication for patients with type 2 diabetes, a study found.
One in three patients with type 2 currently has to inject insulin at least once a day
Dr Yogish Kudva and Dr Ananda Basu, from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, in the U.S., said in The Lancet journal that patients might stick to their medical regime if it was less onerous.
They said: ‘Doses given three times a week might improve adherence and cause less disruption to the patient’s lifestyle.’
The trial involved 245 people with type 2 diabetes, who had not previously been prescribed insulin.
Two-thirds were told to use degludec once a day or three times a week. The remainder had daily jabs of insulin glargine, a widely used medication.
Findings showed similar control of blood sugar levels across all three groups, according to a report in The Lancet. But those given daily jabs of degludec had fewer attacks of hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar, which can cause confusion, fainting and death.
Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk hopes to apply for licensing approval to market the drug in 2013.
