Introduction: Despite the continuously growing number of therapeutic options for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) including insulins, a large percentage of patients fail to achieve HbA1c targets. Several real-world studies focused on patients with T2DM receiving insulin treatment in outpatient settings were conducted, but information about real-world in-hospital insulin management is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the management of insulin therapy with a focus on basal-bolus and premixed insulin regimens in patients with T2DM under routine in-hospital medical practice in the Czech Republic.
Methods: This non-interventional prospective study was conducted from June 2014 to December 2017 in 22 centers in the Czech Republic under routine clinical practice conditions. Adult patients admitted to hospital with metabolically uncontrolled T2DM [HbA1c ≥ 60 mmol/mol; > 7.6% Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)] and there treated with basal-bolus and premixed insulin regimens were documented during hospitalization.
Results: Overall, 369 patients with T2DM (54.7% male, mean age 64.44 ± 13.84 years, BMI 31.10 ± 6.00 kg/m2, duration of diabetes 8.11 ± 9.93 years, HbA1c 95.90 ± 24.38 mmol/mol, length of stay was 7.94 ± 4.53 days) were included. The percentage of glucose values under 10 mmol/l at time of randomization (the group with basal-bolus insulin regimen vs. the premix insulin regimen group) was 24.2% vs. 33.5% (p = 0.053), at time of first insulin dose adjustment it was 43.1% vs. 50.0% (p = 0.330), and 1 day before hospital discharge it was 61.7% vs. 61.4% (p = 0.107). A hypoglycemic event occurred in a total of 15 patients in the basal-bolus regimen group, and no hypoglycemic event occurred in the premixed insulin regimen group.
Conclusion: In-hospital insulin management regarding basal-bolus and premixed insulin regimens is safe and in concordance with current international recommendations.
Keywords: Basal-bolus regimen; HbA1c; Hospital insulin management; Hypoglycemia; Insulin titration; Premixed insulin regimen; Type 2 diabetes.