Diabetes Health in The News: Comparing Glargine and Degludec for Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
A new study by Dr. Steven P. Marso and his colleagues from the Research Medical Center in Kansas City has determined that degludec is a noninferior medication when compared to glargine for use in major cardiovascular events. The study, which appears in the New England Journal of Medicine, had 7,637 participants, all of whom had type 2 diabetes. The first group of 3,818 patients received insulin degludec, while the other 3,819 received glargine U100 daily after dinner.
The study primarily examined the first adjudicated major cardiovascular event of the patients, including nonfatal myocardial infarctions, nonfatal stroke, or mortality. Out of those taking degludec, 8.5% had one of these events. For those using glargine, 9.3% experienced an event. At the end of a 24-month period, the average glycated hemoglobin level for each group was 7.5 plus/minus 1.2%. The mean glucose level after fasting was, however, lower amount those taking degludec (128 plus/minus 56 verses 136 plus/minus 57 mg).
These findings were published in New England Journal of Medicine on June 12, 2017.