This is the only basal insulin that offers people with diabetes the possibility of adjusting the time of injection according to their needs in a range of 8 to 40 hours from the previous injection.
More than 5.3 million people suffer from diabetes in our country.To facilitate its adherence to treatment, avoid associated complications, such as hypoglycemia, and improve its feeling of independence is already available in Spain. Degludec insulin, marketed by Novo Nordisk, which supposes, according to experts, a great step forward in the treatment ofThis pathology.
“This insulin, the first of a new generation, provides not only the control of the blood sugar level that patients need but also additional benefits specifically aimed at improving their quality of life.It is, without a doubt, an important step forward, because it is the only basal insulin that offers people with diabetes the possibility of injecting it at any time of the day in the different days of the week (range of 8 to 40 hours between dose).
The flexibility in the administration causes insulin Degludec to adapt to the needs of the patients.In addition, it significantly reduces the risk of total hypoglycemia in type 2 patients, and in the night, both in type 1 patients (in the maintenance period) and type 2 (throughout the treatment period).
Night hypoglycemia are the ones that most concern us since, in most cases, the patient does not recognize it well and can progress towards more serious hypoglycemia, ”says Dr. Manuel Muñoz, an endocrinologist at the San Cecilio de Granada University Hospital.Therefore, especially significant advance if one takes into account that hypoglycemia are the main risk that daily coexistence with diabetes entails.
Now, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has given the green light to the swallowing insulin and its reimbursement is approved by the National Health System, a basal insulin that is administered once a dayand is indicated for the treatment of people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 that have more than a year.
The novelty that this medicine contributes lies in its mechanism of action, becoming the first insulin that provides an action duration beyond 42 hours which allows successful to reduce the level of long -term blood glucose (HBA1C).In addition, insulin Degludec compared to insulin Glargina U100 significantly decreases (total and nocturnal hypoglycemia in type 2 patients (throughout the period of treatment and especially in the maintenance period) and nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients T1 in theMaintenance period.
“Having this new therapeutic option helps both doctors and patients to achieve the disease control objectives.The safety, efficacy and flexibility it provides is a clear progress not only for the freedom that it contributes to patients but because they also have a reduced risk of night and total hypoglycemia.
We have to say that hypoglycemia are a side effect of insulin treatment that generates insecurity and fear in patients.While for us, doctors, hypoglycemia is a brake when starting or intensifying antidiabetic treatments.With this new therapeutic weapon, the main needs and demands of doctors and patients are covered, ”says Dr. Francisco Merino, head of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service of the La Fe Valencia University Hospital.