A comparison of semisynthetic human NPH insulin and porcine NPH insulin in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Twenty-two insulin-dependent diabetic patients participated in a double-blind, cross-over study, where treatment with semisynthetic human NPH insulin (Novo Industri) was compared with porcine NPH insulin (Nordisk). Each treatment period lasted 8 weeks. Blood glucose level, glycosylated haemoglobin, insulin requirements, and frequency of hypoglycaemic events were compared. No difference was found in 24-hour blood glucose profiles. Fasting blood glucose level was 8.3 mmol/l during treatment with human insulin and 8.7 mmol/l during treatment with porcine insulin (p less than 0.1). Mean HbA1c was 7.7% at the end of study compared to 9.5% at baseline (p less than 0.01), but this decline in HbA1c was independent of the treatment regimen. Forty-six hypoglycaemic events occurred during treatment with human insulin compared to 39 events during treatment with porcine insulin. No difference was found regarding insulin requirements during the study. It is concluded that semisynthetic human NPH insulin is indistinguishable from porcine NPH insulin with respect to 24-hour blood glucose profile, HbA1c level and insulin dose requirements.