Correlates of analog vs human basal insulin use among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 175; p. 108825
• Main Authors: Cromer, Sara J., Wexler, Deborah J., Kazemian, Pooyan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Aged; Basal insulin; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Female; Health disparity; Humans; Insulin - pharmacology; Insulin - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Type 2 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Health disparity; Basal insulin
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2021.108825

Given the shift from use of less expensive human to costlier analog insulins for treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), we examine characteristics and glycemic control associated with type of basal insulin use. We analyzed respondents with T2D in six consecutive National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2005–2016). Logistic regression models examined associations between demographics, socioeconomic factors, and NHANES cycle with (1) type of basal insulin use and (2) hemoglobin A1c <8.0% and <7.0% according to basal insulin type. Findings: Basal insulin use increased from 9.6% to 17.2% of respondents with T2D between 2005 and 2016. Among 723 respondents meeting inclusion criteria, the proportion using analog basal insulin rose from 58% to 88%. African American (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24–0.74) and Hispanic (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30–0.96) respondents had lower odds of analog basal insulin use than non-Hispanic White respondents in adjusted and unadjusted models. Older age and having health insurance, but not type of basal insulin use, associated with meeting HbA1c targets. Interpretation: Non-White NHANES respondents were less likely to use analog basal insulin than White respondents. Increased analog basal insulin use between 2005 and 2016 was not associated with improved glycemic control.