Review of the Next Generation of Long-Acting Basal Insulins: Insulin Degludec and Insulin Glargine

Older adults are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although oral agents (i.e., metformin) are the preferred first-line therapy, older adults often eventually require the addition of insulin to control their blood glucose. Long-acting insulin analogues are the preferred insulin products for older adults with T2DM. Insulin degludec and insulin glargine U-300 are both new generation long-acting insulins. When compared with the standard of care, long-acting insulin product insulin glargine U-100, insulin degludec, and insulin glargine U-300 had similar glucose-lowering effects, longer half-lives and durations of action, and a more even distribution over a 24-hour period. Additionally, the new generation insulins were superior with regard to rates and severity of nocturnal hypoglycemia. The long-term cardiovascular safety of these products has not been established yet. Although the new generation long-acting insulins will not revolutionize diabetes management, they appear to be an improvement over previous long-acting insulins.