Comparison of breakfast and bedtime administration of insulin glargine in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of administration time of insulin glargine (IG) on glycemic control in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.Materials and methodsA total of 31 children and adolescents (15 F and 16 M) with Type 1 diabetes on intensive therapy (bedtime NPH and premeal insulin aspart) were randomized to receive once-daily IG either at breakfast (breakfast group, n = 15) or bedtime (bedtime group, n = 16) while continuing insulin aspart premeals for 6 months. Blood glucose levels were measured fasting, preprandially and bedtime. Total daily insulin dose (TDD), body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and frequency of hypoglycemia in the preceding 3 months were assessed at recruitment, third month and sixth month.ResultsThe dose of IG, TDD, and fasting blood glucose levels were similar in both groups during the study period. The only significant difference in blood glucose levels between breakfast and bedtime groups was found for dinnertime at 6 months (135 ± 26 mg/dl versus 161 ± 33 mg/dl, respectively, p = 0.035). In the breakfast group, the mean HbA1c level was significantly lower than that of baseline at month 6 (9.4 ± 2.5% versus 8.0 ± 0.9%, respectively, p = 0.022), whereas there was no significant change in the bedtime group (9.2 ± 2.1% versus 8.9 ± 2.2%, respectively). The frequency of hypoglycemia was lower with IG than NPH (2.7 ± 2.8/6 months versus 6.4 ± 6.7/6 months, respectively, p = 0.008).ConclusionsOnce-daily IG at breakfast in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes on intensive therapy is more efficacious than bedtime administration to improve metabolic control. Also, the number of hypoglycaemic events decreased with both breakfast and bedtime administrations of IG.