Response to Diabetologia published studies (7/2/2009)

LWPES Members:

On June 26, 2009, several studies were published online in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Performed in Germany, Sweden, and Scotland using large diabetes and cancer databases, these epidemiologic studies investigated the risk of malignancy in patients treated with insulin analogs, in particular insulin glargine (brand name Lantus, Sanofi Aventis).  A small, but significant increased risk of cancer, specifically breast cancer, was identified in patients treated with insulin glargine alone, a population of mostly older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A fourth study from the United Kingdom was negative and did not identify a link between cancer and the insulin analogs. In addition, there was no clear evidence of harm in type 1 diabetes or in patients taking insulin glargine in combination with other insulin analogs. The authors of the studies and the accompanying editorial caution against over-interpretation of the limited data available to date, and state that no firm conclusions can be drawn. 

The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrinology Society (LWPES) does not recommend that patients receiving insulin glargine be switched to an alternative basal insulin. Patients and parents should be made aware that the link between insulin and cancer has been suggested but not proven and only in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The LWPES supports further research into the long-term safety of all the insulin analogs. Individual patient concerns should be addressed with their treating physicians.

For more information, please refer to the EASD website: http://webcast.easd.org/press/glargine/glargine.htm.