Efficacy and Safety of Analog Insulin in Comparison With Human Insulin for Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Stroke: A Randomized, Open-Label, Single-Center Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of analog insulins in comparison with human insulins for hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with acute stroke.

METHODS

In this single-center, open-label, randomized trial, 102 patients (age 59.4 ± 11.7 years, 54 women) admitted with acute stroke (52 ischemic, 50 hemorrhagic) and hyperglycemia were assigned to analog insulin (n = 52) or human insulin (n = 50) group during February to June 2021. Insulin was initiated and titrated according to the predefined standard protocol. The capillary blood glucose (BG) level was monitored by standardized glucometers. The primary outcomes were mean daily BG and the number of hypoglycemic events.

RESULTS

Between the 2 treatment groups, there was no significant difference in the mean daily BG (P >.05 for all days) or in the frequency of hypoglycemic episodes (P =.727). Four participants experienced severe hypoglycemia; all were receiving human insulin (P =.054). In the analog insulin group, there was a tendency toward lower daily total requirement for insulin (P =.053). The difference in bolus insulin dose was significantly lower in the analog insulin group (P =.029), but the difference in basal insulin dose was similar (P =.167). Between the 2 groups, there were no significant differences in the hospital mortality rate, modified Rankin Scale score on outcome, or length of hospital stay (P =.729,.658, and.918, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Hospitalized patients acute stroke and hyperglycemia exhibited similar mean BG but a trend of lower incidence of severe hypoglycemia when treated with analog insulins in comparison with human insulin.