PHARMAC and long-acting insulin analogues: a poor man's insulin pump--but to the poor man

Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin analogue providing a more predictable and reproducible circulating insulin profile than other available basal insulin products. Hypoglycaemia is one of the main limiting factors to patients with diabetes requiring insulin, in achieving tight glycaemic control and reduced rates of complications. Evidence from randomised controlled clinical trials demonstrates reduced rates of hypoglycaemia in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes using insulin glargine compared with other basal insulin. Insulin glargine has been registered for use in New Zealand since June 2001, but currently remains unsubsidised by PHARMAC. Reducing the incidence and impact of diabetes is one of the stated aims in the New Zealand Health Strategy and the complete lack of funding for pharmaceutical agents such as insulin glargine severely limits its accessibility to patients with diabetes and would seem in contradiction to this aim.