Review Examines Efficacy, Cost of Long-acting Insulin

An analysis revealed type 1 diabetes patients on long-acting insulin attained better A1C, gained less weight and had a reduced risk of severe hypoglycemia than those on immediate-acting insulin. Long-acting insulin was more costly but significantly more effective than immediate-acting insulin, long-acting insulin analogs are probably superior to intermediate acting insulin analogs, although the difference is small for HbA1c. Patients and their physicians should tailor their choice of insulin according to preference, cost, and accessibility. Oct 1, 2014, BMJ 2014;349:g5459