A COMPARISON OF PREMIXED INSULIN PREPARATIONS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS - EFFICACY OF 70/30 AND 50/50 HUMAN INSULIN MIXTURES

OBJECTIVE - To compare the postprandial hyperglycemic response to a standard breakfast of two premixed humulin insulin mixtures, 50/50 (50% NPH human insulin and 50% regular human insulin) and 70/30 (70% NPH human insulin and 30% regular human insulin) in elderly non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - On two mornings, each patient (n = 20) consumed a standard breakfast after a single dose of 50/50 or 70/30 insulin (0.3 U/kg) was administered in a randomized crossover fashion. Plasma glucose and serum free insulin concentrations were measured before and for 4 h after insulin administration. RESULTS - Plasma glucose reached a peak at 60 min and a nadir at 240 min for both types of insulin. No differences in maximum and minimum glucose concentrations, time to maximum and minimum glucose concentrations, or areas under the curve were noted. Free insulin levels did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS - These results suggest that small changes in the composition of premixed insulin mixtures in NIDDM patients may not result in improved postprandial glycemic control.