A randomized controlled trial of transition from insulin pump to multiple daily injections using insulin degludec

To evaluate two methods of transition from an insulin pump to multiple daily injections (MDI) using long-acting insulin degludec (IDeg).

After a 1-week run-in period, adults with type 1 diabetes for longer than 1 year and HbA1c 48-69 mmol/mol (6.5%-8.5%), who had been using an insulin pump at least for 6 months, were randomly transitioned to either standard of care (discontinued insulin pump and started IDeg in 1:1 dose) or overlap (IDeg 1:1 at pump basal dose, but pump continued for the first 48 hours with a gradual basal reduction; 50% from 0-24 hours, 75% from 24-48 hours and then pump discontinued). Participants used blinded Dexcom G6 and the IDeg dose was not changed during the trial. Primary (% time above 180 mg/dL) and secondary (% time in 70-180 mg/dL and below 70 mg/dL) outcomes were compared between the two groups during 7 days of randomization.

Age, gender, diabetes duration and basal/bolus insulin doses were similar between patients randomized to standard of care (n = 17) or overlap (n = 13) transition. Compared with overlap transition, the standard of care group spent 4.8% more time in hyperglycaemia (least square mean 4.8% [95% CI -3.3%, 12.9%]) and 5.3% less time in range (-5.3% [-12.6%, -2.0%]), without a significant difference in hypoglycaemia (0.5% [-2.3%,3.4%]). No treatment-related adverse events were noted in either group.

The overlap transition method may result in a significant improvement in time-in-range without increasing hypoglycaemia during the first week of transition from an insulin pump to MDI using IDeg in adults with type 1 diabetes.