Clinical and Cost Implications of Insulin Degludec in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes and Problematic Hypoglycemia: A Quality Improvement Project

Introduction To assess the real-life clinical benefits and cost implications of switching from another basal insulin to insulin degludec (degludec) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on basal–bolus regimens with recurrent hypoglycemia and/or hypoglycemia unawareness. Methods Patients with T1D who were aged ≥ 18 years, were on a basal–bolus regimen, and had switched to degludec plus bolus insulin for at least 6 months were included. Patients had to have switched to degludec as a result of recurrent hypoglycemia and/or hypoglycemia unawareness. Results Six months of follow-up data were available for 42 patients. At 6 months, there was a significant reduction in median (interquartile range) HbA1c, from 8.6 (8.0–9.3)% [70 (64–78) mmol/mol] to 8.4 (7.9–8.9)% [68 (63–74) mmol/mol]; p