NOVO Nordisk’s modern insulin products show better safety profile than other insulin products, according to a leading study on diabetes treatment.
The study — titled A1chieve — was conducted on 60,000 diabetic patients across the world by Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, with support from Novo Nordisk.
The results of the study were revealed at the Bangladesh Premix Summit 2013, organised by Novo Nordisk at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka yesterday, to help Bangladesh’s huge diabetic population control the disease and its related complications.
Zafar Ahmed Latif, professor of endocrinology department of BIRDEM Hospital, presented the findings of the study.
“Patient compliance is essential for proper management of diabetes mellitus,” said Dr Marc Evans, a consultant diabetologist at Cardiff and Vale University.
Novo Nordisk’s NovoMix 30 insulin product has better patient compliance as it can be taken with a fewer number of injections, he said, adding that the study found hypoglycemic events with its usage was less than other conventional insulin products.
“Globally, diabetes has become an epidemic, with its prevalence increasing by the day.”
At present, the total diabetic population the world over is 366 million, which, according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), would rise to 552 million by 2030.
IDF projected Bangladesh’s current diabetic population of 8.4 million would double by 2030.
“The emerging global epidemic is manageable if we could raise awareness among the people,” Evans said.
A healthy lifestyle, which includes balanced diet, regular physical exercise, maintenance of body weight, can delay diabetes, he said.
“Those who are already diabetic need proper education.”
Among all the pharmacological interventions, insulin is the optimum and supreme option for diabetes management, Evans said.
In Bangladesh, more than 66 percent of diabetic patients are using premix insulin, said A Rajan Kumar, managing director of Novo Nordisk.
“By arranging this grand event we are one step ahead to ensuring that diabetic patients achieve the expected glycaemic control,” he said.
Novo Nordisk, the world’s biggest insulin maker, controls 75 percent of the local insulin market in Bangladesh.
Last month, Novo Nordisk launched three locally manufactured insulin products in Bangladesh.
The three products — Mixtard 30, Insulatard and Actrapid — were all manufactured by the Danish company’s local partner Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd.
Novo Nordisk and Eskayef, Bangladesh’s one of the fastest growing medicine makers, will be able to take the insulin products to the patients at affordable prices.
-With The Daily Star input
