Long-term effect of combination therapy with mitiglinide and once daily insulin glargine in patients who were successfully switched from intensive insulin therapy in short-term study.

We have previously reported the therapeutic efficacy of mitiglinide combined with once daily insulin glargine (mitiglinide regimen) after switching from multiple daily insulin regimen of aspart insulin and glargine (intensive insulin regimen) in inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in two consecutive days. In the present study, we followed up 9 of the 15 responsive patients with these novel regimens for 6 months after discharge. The data collected from these patients were compared to those of 15 randomly chosen patients who had well matched background and received intensive insulin regimen during hospitalization which was continued after discharge. The average HbA1c level of these 9 patients with mitiglinide regimen at 6 months was 6.7 +/- 0.8% and was comparable to that of the patients with intensive insulin regimen (HbA1c = 7.0 +/- 1.0%). In conclusion, mitiglinide and insulin glargine combination therapy maintained fair glycemic control for as long as 6 months in subpopulation of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.