A new study announced by Novo Nordisk at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting confirms that NovoMix 30 (biphasic insulin aspart) is associated with significantly fewer nocturnal and major hypoglycaemic events than biphasic human insulin (BHI).
The meta-analysis evaluated the results of nine clinical trials comparing NovoMix 30 with BHI in a total of 1,674 type 2 and 151 type 1 diabetes patients. NovoMix 30 was shown to be associated with a 35 per cent relative risk reduction of nocturnal hypoglycaemia and a 59 per cent relative risk reduction of major hypoglycaemic events compared to BHI across trials.
These results provide strong evidence of a clinically important reduced risk of nocturnal and major hypoglycaemia with NovoMix 30. Symptoms of hypoglycaemic events include, but are not limited to, palpitations, tremor and sweating, but severe manifestations can include seizure, coma and even death.
"These results are significant because many people with diabetes live in fear of a hypoglycaemic event," said Dr Jaime Davidson, Endocrine and Diabetes Association of Texas, Dallas, US. "It is particularly a concern at night when glucose levels can drop more frequently and go undetected by the sleeping individual. Any treatment which can be relied upon to cause as few episodes of hypoglycaemia as possible during these periods is welcome".
The results support those of a key study published in Diabetes Care earlier in 2007, which showed that NovoMix 30 is associated with less nocturnal hypoglycaemia than BHI in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients.2
"NovoMix 30 is a part of the ongoing evolution of diabetes treatments as our understanding of the condition grows," said Dr Robert Ligthelm, consultant physician and doctor of internal medicine. "With its lower risk of nocturnal and major hypoglycaemic events compared to BHI, it represents in essence an upgrade from traditional human insulin."
The product is an modern premixed insulin indicated for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. As most people with diabetes do not respond to insulin in the same way, many require more than one type of insulin to control blood glucose levels. It contains both rapid-acting insulin (30%) and long-acting insulin (70%) in one dose, through its dual-release formula.
The rapid-acting component of NovoMix 30 begins to have an effect on glucose absorption within 0 to 10 minutes. That is why it can be given right before a meal, compared to human insulin, which has to be given 30 minutes before a meal. The long-acting component of NovoMix 30 has a protracted absorption and, therefore, a longer duration of action of up to 24 hours. The maximum effect occurs between one and four hours after injection.