OBJECTIVES: In randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world (RW) studies, adult patients (pts) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with basal insulin (BI) analogues insulin glargine 300 U/ml (Gla-300) or insulin glargine 100 U/ml (Gla-100) had similar reductions in HbA1c and Gla-300 was associated with lower incidence of hypoglycaemia compared with Gla-100. This study evaluated clinical outcomes in pts with T2D who switched from any BI to Gla-300 or Gla-100 in France, Spain, and Germany.

METHODS: Interim data were obtained from medical records for 494 pts who switched to either Gla-300 (N=292) or Gla-100 (N=202). Differences in baseline (BL) characteristics and clinical outcomes between groups were evaluated, and physician reasons for selecting Gla-300 or Gla-100 were assessed.

RESULTS: Patient demographics and comorbidities were generally similar between Gla-300 and Gla-100 groups: % female (39.4 vs 47.0%, respectively), mean BL HbA1c (8.4 vs 8.4%), Charlson Comorbidity Index score (0.78 vs 0.88). In the Gla-300 group, diabetic nephropathy (7.2 vs 2.5%; P=0.021), prior stroke/TIA (7.2 vs 2.5%; P=0.021), and BMI (mean 29.2 vs 28.4 kg/m; P=0.024) was higher, and more pts reported any hypoglycaemic events prior to switch (37.0 vs 24.3%; P=0.012). At 6 months’ follow-up, reductions from BL in HbA1c (-1.07 vs -1.16%) and weight (-2.29 vs -2.09 kg) were similar. The unadjusted mean reduction in hypoglycaemic events/patient over 6 months was greater for Gla-300 (-1.29 vs -0.62; P=0.025). There were no meaningful differences in insulin dose change during the reported titration period (5.53 vs 6.00 U).

CONCLUSIONS: This comparative EU study showed that at 6 months, changes in glycaemic control and weight from BL were similar; however, unadjusted reductions in hypoglycaemic events were greater for pts switching to Gla-300 than to Gla-100, as previously reported in RCTs and RW studies. Here, there was no difference in dose change 6 months after switching.