Real-world comparative effectiveness of analogue and human insulin on glycemic control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes in Lebanon using continuous glucose monitoring data

AIM

In high income settings, insulin analogues were associated with improved glycemic control among adults with diabetes, mainly measured through HbA1c and hypoglycemic episodes. In low- and middle-income countries, especially those affected by humanitarian crises, analogue insulins may be helpful as proper diabetes care for this population remains challenging; yet, supporting evidence is lacking.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Routinely collected continuous glucose sensor data from patients with Type 1 diabetes, aged 4 to 18 years old, between April 2019 and December 2022 was retrospectively extracted. Changes in glycemic metrics while using analogue insulins were compared with human insulin using multiple linear regression with random effects.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients included in the study used continuous glucose monitor devices for an average duration of 73 days (±53) while using human insulin and 170 days (±83) while using analogue insulins. Compared with human insulin, analogue insulins were associated with an additional 26 min (95% CI; 15, 37, p < 0.001) per day spent within the normal target range and a reduction of 11 min (95% CI; -16, -5) and 10 min (95% CI; -13, -7) in overall and nocturnal hypoglycemia, respectively. Analogue insulin was also associated with a reduction of 6 mg/dl in 24 h mean glucose.

CONCLUSION

Insulin analogues were associated with slight improvements in time within and below range compared with human insulin, yet within patient glycemic variability remains high. Further research is needed to explore its acceptability among patients, impact on quality of life and its cost-effectiveness and sustainability in low resource contexts.