OBJECTIVE -To quantify pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of regular insulin and insulin lispro in type 1 diabetic patients with and without overt diabetic nephropathy.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -In this double-blind, two-way cross-over, euglycemic (5 mmol/l) glucose clamp study, we investigated the metabolic response to subcutaneous injections of regular insulin and insulin lispro (0.2 U/kg) in 12 type 1 diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy (proteinuria Ͼ500 mg/24 h and/or serum creatinine Ͼ1.5 mg/dl; NP group) and in a control group of 12 type 1 diabetic patients with normal renal function (DC group). [DC]). The overall metabolic effect of regular insulin but not of insulin lispro was lower in patients with diabetic nephropathy than in diabetic control patients (967 vs. 1,510 mg/kg, respectively).
RESULTSCONCLUSIONS -Although insulin levels are higher in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy, the metabolic response to regular insulin is reduced. Insulin lispro maintains its characteristic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy.
Diabetes Care 24:886 -890, 2001I nsulin therapy in type 1 diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy is characterized by two features: while suffering from a considerably increased risk of severe hypoglycemic episodes (1,2), they show poorer metabolic control than diabetic patients with normal renal function (3). The increased hypoglycemic risk may be partially explained by the decline in renal insulin clearance, as 30 -80% of systemically circulating insulin is removed by the kidneys (4). A reduction of insulin clearance has been described in nondiabetic patients with end-stage renal failure (5,6) and mild to moderate renal impairment (7); however, until now, it has not been studied in patients with diabetic nephropathy.Insulin sensitivity, on the other hand, is attenuated in patients with renal impairment, not only in those with endstage renal failure, but also in patients in earlier stages of renal impairment (7-9). However, to date the metabolic consequences of reduced insulin clearance and diminished insulin sensitivity on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of regular insulin or rapid acting insulin analogues have never been studied in type 1 diabetic patients.In view of the diminished clearance of insulin in patients with altered renal function, the use of a rapid-acting insulin analogue might theoretically be advantageous because of its shorter duration of action, leading to a reduced incidence of hypoglycemic episodes (10,11). Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic summary measures for regular insulin and insulin lispro in type 1 diabetic patients with and without overt diabetic nephropathy.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
PatientsFor this study, 12 type 1 diabetic patients fulfilling the following inclusion criteria were recruited: age 20 -50 years; GHb Ͻ10%; overt diabetic nephropathy (defined according to the modified Mogensen criteria...