Glycemic control with insulin glargine: Observational study in Morocco with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin alone or in combination with a sulfonylurea and/or basal insulin

The aim of this study conducted in Morocco is to assess glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients inadequately controlled on metformin therapy alone or in combination with a sulfonylurea and/or basal insulin. 263 patients were included in the study by 39 centers in Morocco. The average age of patients was 57.4±9.7 years. All patients received oral treatment with metformin (n=209) and/or sulfonylurea (n=204). Only 27.8% of patients were on basal insulin (NPH, or long acting analogs) before inclusion. At baseline, all patients initiated (82.2%) or continued (17.8%) a treatment with insulin glargine. Mean HbA1c decreased by approximately 1.9±1.4% from baseline to the final visit (P<0.001). 34% of patients achieved an HbA1c <7,0% after 24 weeks of follow-up. Average weight at the end of the study was 77.4±12.3 kg, representing an increase of about +0.7 kg (P=0.01). Hypoglycemia was reported by nearly 13% of patients at each of the two follow-up visits, and four severe hypoglycemic episodes were reported during the 24-week follow-up. In conclusion, this observational study has demonstrated, among T2D patients inadequately controlled, that the initiation or continuation of treatment with insulin glargine is associated with improvement of glycemic control with a moderate weight gain.