Search for the most practical regular/NPH mixtures for type I diabetic patients.

After 2 wk of good control 9 type I diabetic patients were hospitalized and treated in a randomized fashion with different human insulin mixtures (regular: NPH), containing 10, 15, or 20% regular insulin. In the case of the 15:85% mixture, mean blood glucose was found to be in the range of 70-150 mg/dl. Significant differences occurred at certain time points between the curves obtained with the 10:90% and the 15:85% mixtures, and the 10:90% and the 20:80% preparations, respectively. Prolongation of the interval between hormone injection and start of breakfast from 30 to 45 min abolished the postprandial glucose excursion in the 15:85% and the 20:80% mixture, but not the 10:90% mixture.