INTRODUCTION. Incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Poland are still increasing. Methods of treatment and achieved metabolic control have a great impact on prognosis in this disease. In this retrospective observational study efficacy, safety and tolerability of long-acting insulin analogue, glargine in everyday clinical practice were evaluated.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. 68 persons with type 1 diabetes were observed. Main indications for treatment with glargine were morning hyperglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia and large fluctuations of glucose level during 24 hours. During the study impact of treatment with glargine on metabolic control, frequency of hypoglycemia, body mass, blood pressure and treatment satisfaction was evaluated. Also changes in insulin doses were calculated.
RESULTS. During the observation lasting 22.0 ± 12.2 months, 0.53% significant decrease of HbA_1C (from 8.56% to 8.03%) (p = 0.00014) was achieved. Frequency of hypoglycemia also decreased. Impact on body mass was neutral (66.5 kg before treatment and 67.2 kg at the end of observation) and blood pressure values didn’t change significantly (131.4/79.4 mm Hg vs. 132.1/79.3 mm Hg). Requirement for basal insulin dose has lowered significantly at the end of the observation (from 22.1 units to 17.4 units) (p < 0.00001), also total insulin dose decreased significantly from 49.2 to 45.9 units (p = 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS. In this study long-acting insulin analogue-glargine, was characterized by good efficacy, very good safety profile and was much better tolerated as compared with previous treatment. Moreover it didn't has negative impact on body mass and blood pressure.