Insulin glargine in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs as a cost-equivalent alternative to conventional insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Recent data suggest that insulin glargine might be a cost-effective alternative to conventional insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the treatment costs of insulin glargine in combination with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) compared with conventional insulin therapy in T2DM in everyday clinical practice.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from a cohort of 678 patients with T2DM not adequately controlled by OADs alone (HbA1c mean 9.1 +/- 1.7%). Patients received either insulin glargine in addition to oral therapy or were switched to conventional insulin therapy. Treatment and dosing decisions were made at the physician's discretion, reflecting everyday practice. Patients were followed for 2-4 months. Primary outcome parameters were total treatment costs and clinical efficacy.

RESULTS

The two therapeutic regimens were equally effective in decreasing HbA1c to 7.8% (p < 10(-9)). Patients in the insulin glargine plus OAD group controlled their blood glucose level at endpoint with a median of 60 test strips per month and those in the conventional insulin therapy group with a median of 80 strips per month (p = 0.000000739). Total daily costs of insulin, needles, glycemic control and OAD treatment per patient were similar in the two treatment groups (insulin glargine group 1.91 Euro vs conventional group 1.99 Euro).

CONCLUSION

The two treatment regimens were equally effective in improving glycemic control. These results were achieved with significantly lower insulin doses and fewer blood glucose test strips in the insulin glargine group, which therefore led to cost equivalence when compared with conventional insulin therapy.