Comparison of lispro insulin and regular insulin in the management of hyperglycaemic emergencies

Abstract

This study compared the efficacy and safety of Lispro insulin and regular insulin in the management of hyperglycemic emergencies (HE). Fifty patients who presented in HE to the Emergency unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, lie Ife participated in the study. Hyperglycaemic emergency was diagnosed when plasma glucose level was > 17 mmol/L (300 mg/dl) in the presence of polyuria and polydipsia that warrants emergency hospital admission. Subjects in the Lispro insulin group had a statum dose of 0.3 IU/kg, while those in the regular insulin group had a statum dose of 20 IU equally split between the intravenous and intramuscular routes. Further insulin therapy was by the intramuscular route. Data was analysed using the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 11. Hyperglycaemia resolved within the first 8 hours in 60 and 40% percent of subjects in the lispro and regular insulin treated groups respectively. The time taken for resolution of hyperglycaemia was similar in both treatment groups, 6.6±0.8 hours for the lispro insulin group and 7.4±0.8 hours for the regular insulin group p = 0.51. The number of episodes of hypoglycaemia and hypokalemia in the two treatment groups did not differ statistically (p = 1.0 and 0.38 respectively). Eight (16%) subjects died. Lispro insulin is a safe and efficacious alternative to regular insulin in the treatment of HE.