Mixtard 30 HM Penfill insulin treatment in selected young insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Romanian Young Diabetics Study Team (RYDST).

Twelve Romanian centers investigated the validity of a two daily insulin regimen using premixed biosynthetic human insulin Mixtard 30 HM Penfill (ratio: 30% rapid, 70% intermediate NPH-insulin) injected by NovoPen II in IDDM patients. Duration of the study was 16 weeks. A total of 159 patients aged 6 to 18 years were analyzed. Before study started, patients were educated about diabetes management and received strips for home blood glucose monitoring. After a 4-week run-in period on previous treatment (mainly two daily injections of self-mixed highly purified monocomponent porcine or human insulin given by conventional syringes), patients were transferred to two daily injections of Mixtard 30 HM Penfill insulin administered by NovoPen II. From transfer to study end (12 weeks) total daily insulin dose (mean +/- SD: 32.6 +/- 12.1 vs 33.9 +/- 12.2 IU) increased (p < 0.001), four-point blood glucose mean values decreased as well as HbA1 (11.4 +/- 2.2% vs 10.5 +/- 2.2%, p < 0.001), without a significant increase in the number of hypoglycemic events. NovoPen II was well accepted and preferred by patients. Achieved results might be ascribed to the use of Mixtard 30 HM Penfill treatment as well as to blood glucose monitoring and a better education. Follow-up measurement of HbA1 one year after transfer showed no statistically significant differences as compared to the values measured at the end of the study.