Human (semisynthetic) insulin and porcine insulin in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. A double-blind, comparative clinical trial

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, who had not previously received insulin therapy, participated in a double-blind comparative trial of six months' duration to evaluate the efficacy of human (semisynthetic) insulin. Patients were allocated at random to treatment either with human (semisynthetic) insulin (10 patients) or with an equivalent porcine insulin regimen (11 patients). Sex ratio, age, body mass index, duration of diabetes, C-peptide concentrations, baseline metabolic control and initial insulin requirements were similar in both groups. After six months, no significant differences between the treatment effects of human (semisynthetic) insulin and porcine insulin, as assessed by measurements of fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels, the concentration of glycosylated haemoglobin, serum lipid levels, insulin dose, and body weight, were found. No adverse reactions, injection-site anomalies, or drug-related biochemical abnormalities were noted in either group. It was concluded that human (semisynthetic) insulin is as effective as porcine insulin in initiating the treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes who require insulin therapy.