Evaluation of a Premixed Insulin Analog Suspension in Japanese People with Type 2 Diabetes and the Clinical Importance of Improved Injection Techniques: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION Patients with type 2 diabetes, who live in Asian countries, often use premixed insulin analogs. However, if these solutions are insufficiently mixed prior to use, patients will receive inaccurate doses of intermediate- and/or short-acting insulin, which could affect diabetes control. This study aimed to determine whether insulin users were correctly resuspending premixed insulin analog solutions prior to use. METHODS We investigated whether Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were correctly resuspending their premixed insulin analog solutions by assessing the optical densities (ODs) of the solutions. RESULTS Among 476 patients who used premixed insulin analogs, we found that the ODs of residual insulin differed significantly from the control values, particularly for high-mix insulin suspensions. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that patients should be educated about the importance of properly resuspending these insulin analog solutions prior to use. TRIAL REGISTRATION University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN No. 000022329).