Basal-bolus versus Linagliptin-basal Insulin Regimens in Non-cardiac Surgery T2D Patients

A recent study published in Annals of Medicine found that a linagliptin-basal insulin regimen was safe and effective in T2D non-cardiac surgery patients when compared to a basal-bolus insulin regimen. Hospitalized T2D patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery who were not critically ill with glycated hemoglobin level < 8% and blood glucose concentration < 240 mg/dL at admission who did not receive at-home injectable treatments received either basal-bolus (n = 347) or linagliptin-basal (n = 190) regimens. After propensity matching was performed, each group had a total of 120 patients. There were no significant differences in mean blood glucose concentration after admission (P = 0.162), number of patients with a mean blood glucose 100-140 mg/dL (P = 0.163) and > 200mg/dL (P = 0.199), and treatment failures (p = 0.395).The linagliptin-basal group had lower daily insulin and daily insulin injections (both P < 0.001), as well as fewer hypoglycemic events (blood glucose < 70 mg/dL) (P < 0.001).