Comparison on Efficacy and Safety of Three Inpatient Insulin Regimens for Management of Non-Critical Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Scheduled Subcutaneous Insulin therapy has been recommended for better glycemic control. Aims: To compare efficacy and safety of traditional sliding scale insulin (SSI) versus modified 70/30 insulin versus basal plus supplemental scale (SS) insulin regimens for glycemic control of inpatients with diabetes. Methods: In a prospective trial, 62 patients with diabetes were randomized to receive either hospital SSI (N = 22), or twice daily 70/30 insulin plus supplemental lunchtime insulin for BG ≥ 150 mg/dL (N = 21) or once every night glargine plus prandial glulisine for BG ≥ 150 mg/dL (N = 19). 70/30 insulin and glargine were started respectively at 0.4 and 0.2 U/kg/day for BG ≤ 200 mg/dL or 0.5 and 0.3 U/kg/day for BG above 200 mg/dL. Results: Starting at BG level of 204 ± 68, 200 ± 50 and 241 ± 94 mg/dL in SSI, 70/30 insulin and glargine/glulisine groups respectively, (F(2,35.47) = 1.467, p = 0.244, Welch test), mean daily BG after first day of hospitalization was statistically significant (F(2,35.58) = 7.043, p = 0.003, Welch test) lower in 70/30 insulin group (171 ± 38 mg/dL) compared to (218 ± 71 mg/dL) in SSI group (p = 0.026) and (225 ± 65 mg/dL) in glargine/glulisine group (p = 0.01). Conclusions: With poorly educated nursing staff, basal plus SS insulin failed to provide adequate glycemic control. However, tailored 70/30 insulin regimen resulted in statistically significant glycemic control compared to traditional SSI.