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Review
. 2015 Oct 1:8:483-93.
doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S54953. eCollection 2015.

Long-term safety and efficacy of insulin degludec in the management of type 2 diabetes

Philippe Thuillier  1 , Zarrin Alavi  2 , Véronique Kerlan  1
Affiliations
Review

Long-term safety and efficacy of insulin degludec in the management of type 2 diabetes

Philippe Thuillier et al. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. .

Abstract

Insulin degludec (IDeg) is a novel antiglycemic agent belonging to the therapeutic class of ultra-long duration basal insulin analogs. Its half-life and duration of action are 25 hours and 42 hours, respectively. This pharmacodynamic profile leads to a strict dosing schedule, ie, IDeg is injected at the same time each day to ensure optimal biological action and consistent glycemic control. According to the literature, IDeg provides glycemic control and nocturnal hypoglycemia reduction comparable with other long-acting analogs in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk of severe hypoglycemic episodes seems also to be reduced when using IDeg therapy; however, long-term follow-up is warranted for monitoring of possible but relatively infrequent adverse events. IDeg is also available in combination with aspart insulin and with liraglutide. The above preparations have been approved by the European Medicines Agency and other national health authorities. In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration asked for a complementary study on IDeg-associated cardiovascular risk. Future prospective evaluation of large cohorts of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with IDeg, with long-term follow-up, can provide further relevant information on the safety of IDeg therapy.

Keywords: HbA1c; basal insulin analog; degludec insulin; hypoglycemia; safety; type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structure of insulin degludec DesB30 LysB29 (γ-Glu Nε-hexadecandioyl) human insulin. Note: Reprinted by Permission of SAGE. Wakil A., Atkin SL. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab. 2012;3:55–59. Copyright © 2012 SAGE Publications.
Figure 2
Figure 2
BEGIN program and other studies focusing on insulin degludec in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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