Twice‐daily variable insulin regimens: proportions of insulin types have little impact on glycaemic control in primary school‐aged children

Aim  To ascertain the relationship between glycaemic outcome and proportions and timing of insulin admixture in a cohort of primary school-aged children who were receiving insulin in a twice-daily regimen. Methods  Children aged 4–10 years with Type 1 diabetes of > 2 years duration and on twice-daily variable insulin regimens were eligible for inclusion in this study, which took place over a 12-month period. Characteristics of insulin regimen [total daily dose (TDD), proportion of total daily dose given in the morning and proportion of the TDD given as intermediate-acting insulin] were compared with parameters of glycaemia including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and continuous glucose monitoring measures (mean glucose, per cent time in various glycaemic ranges, and intra- and inter-day glycaemic variation). Results  Forty-nine children completed the study. Participants were all prepubertal at the start of the study and representative of the local diabetes population aged 4–10 years (mean age 8.2 years, mean duration of diabetes 3.5 years, mean HbA1c 8.1%). The mean TDD was 0.9 units/kg/day (range 0.6–1.3). The TDD, percentage of TDD given as intermediate-acting insulin and the percentage of TDD given as the morning dose were not associated with HbA1c, mean continuous glucose monitoring system glucose, per cent time in various glycaemic ranges or intra- and inter-day glycaemic variation. Conclusions  Insulin proportions in twice-daily, variable insulin regimens are not associated with any short- or medium-term glycaemic outcomes.