Insulin Combination Treats Low Blood Sugar in Diabetes Patients

At a presentation at the International Diabetes Federation's 21st World Diabetes Congress in Dubai, Novo Nordisk said the combination of insulin degludec (waiting FDA approval) and insulin aspart reduced the overall occurrence of hypoglycemia, during the day and at night for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The combination also lowered the amount of sugar in patients' blood plasma after a period of not eating (fasting).

Novo Nordisk corporate VP and global chief medical officer, Alan Moses, said, "The unique way in which insulin degludec/insulin aspart works, with the basal insulin providing an ultra-long and steady action profile, plus a bolus boost of insulin aspart, provides a simple way to introduce mealtime dosing at any meal." "These benefits, along with the reduced risk of hypoglycemia and improved [fasting plasma glucose] shown in these studies, are very promising for people living with diabetes."

A second study also showed rates of hypoglycemia that were 37% lower in type 1 diabetes patients who took the combination and rapid-acting mealtime insulin doses compared with those who took the mealtime doses with insulin detemir, which the company sells under the Levemir brand.

Presented at the World Diabetes Congress (IDF) in Dubai, Dec. 2011