Marked improvement in HbA1c following introduction of biosimilar insulin to treatment regimen of children and youth with type 1 diabetes in Mali : A randomised controlled trial

Aims: Evidence on outcomes of treating type 1 diabetes (T1D) with long-acting basal insulins in low-resourced settings is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of switching children and youth with T1D in the low-income country of Mali from human insulin via syringe to long-acting biosimilar insulin glargine delivered by reusable pens combined with short-acting insulin via syringe. Methods: A two-group parallel design randomised trial was conducted enrolling 260 youth aged Results: Primary outcome data were available for 130 (100%) youth in the intervention group and 128 (98.5%) in the control group. Over the 12-month study period, mean HbA1c decreased from 103 to 65 mmol/mol (11.6%-8.1%) (p Conclusions: Switching to a basal-bolus insulin regimen including biosimilar glargine resulted in marked improvements in HbA1c and diabetic ketoacidosis episodes. With relevant training, resources, and support, use of long-acting analogue insulin for treating T1D in Mali was feasible and acceptable to participants and healthcare professionals.