Real-world safety and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in people living with type 1 diabetes in Spain: The Dapa-ON multicenter retrospective study

Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitors in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Framework for Recommendations for Their Potential Use

The growing prevalence of overweight/obesity, the persistence of inadequate glycemic control among the majority of affected individuals, and the still unacceptably high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among population with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), impose an urgent need for the introduction of non-insulin glucose-lowering agents in the therapeutic armamentarium. Given that their antihyperglycemic mechanism of action is independent of endogenous insulin secretion and that the observed cardio-renal benefits are unrelated to their glucose-lowering properties, one can speculate that the use of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) could provide benefits in T1D, similar to the ones observed among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and heart failure. Available evidence from randomized controlled trials suggests that treatment with SGLT2is as adjunct to insulin in T1D results in modest reductions in glycated hemoglobin and body weight. Additionally, SGLT2is ameliorate albuminuria, and thus delay or prevent the development of CKD in T1D. However, use of SGLT2is is associated with an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in T1D. This commentary aims at providing a framework for practical recommendations regarding the potential use of SGLT2is in adults with T1D, based on the individual's risk level for DKA development, the presence of inadequate glycemic control and related cardio-renal complications.

Chronic treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors is associated with ICU admission and disease severity in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis: a propensity score-matched cohort study

SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) are linked to a higher risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, it is still unclear whether the severity of SGLT-2i associated DKA is higher. This is a retrospective cohort study with patients admitted for DKA at a tertiary hospital (2013-2024). Patients were matched by propensity score for age, sex, diabetes duration, type, and ischemic heart disease. ICU admission risk and clinical severity were compared between SGLT-2i users and controls. The matched sample included 105 subjects (35 SGLT-2i users, 70 controls). The average age was 63.1 ± 15.4 years, and 40 (38.1%) patients were women. ICU admission was higher in the treatment group (65.7% versus 24.6%, p < 0.001). A conditional logistic regression showed higher risk of ICU admission in the treatment group (odds ratio 12.7, 95% confidence interval 1.9-84.3, p = 0.009) after adjusting for confounding factors. The treatment group exhibited less favorable blood gas results (pH 7.10 ± 0.17 vs 7.18 ± 0.16, p = 0.024) and shorter symptom duration (2 [1-3] vs 3 [2-7] days, p < 0.002). No significant differences were found in diabetes type, ketonemia, creatinine, or DKA precipitating factors. DKA in patients with diabetes treated with SGLT-2i is associated with more severe acidosis with quicker onset, leading to higher risk of ICU admission compared to patients not receiving this treatment. We recommend temporary discontinuation of SGLT-2i during any acute event until resolution, regardless of diabetes type or the patient's glycemic control.

Effectiveness and safety of glucose-lowering drugs as an adjunct to insulin therapy in Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes: a retrospective, observational study

AIM

To assess the real-world impact of glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) as an adjunct to insulin in Chinese patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

METHODS

This dual-center, observational, retrospective study included 121 T1DM patients receiving GLDs as adjuncts and 56 participants with insulin-only drugs as comparators. Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), daily insulin dosage, fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), nocturnal blood glucose (NBG) and the difference in trough and peak blood glucose levels on the same day (Δ TP) were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study.

RESULTS

In total, HbA1c decreased by 1.14% in the GLD+insulin group (p < 0.0001) and 0.36% in the insulin-only group (p = 0.0423, mean adjusted difference, -0.09% [95% CI, -0.55 to 0.37]). The total daily insulin concentration was reduced by 7.34 U per day in the GLD+insulin group vs. 5.55 U per day in the insulin-only group (mean adjusted difference, -2.32 U [95% CI, -4.97 to 0.33]). In particular, among patients with fasting C-peptide levels < 17 pmol/L, the total daily insulin concentration was significantly reduced by 9.22 U vs. 5.09 U per day (mean adjusted difference, -3.84 [95% CI, -6.85-0.84]; p = 0.0129). There were no notable differences in the other glycemic indices between the two groups. A gradual downward trend in changes in glycemic outcomes was observed among patients treated with various combinations of metformin, acarbose, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (DPP-4i). Similar reductions in the daily insulin dose were also detected in most of the GLD+insulin group in addition to the DPP-4i-only group. No severe hypoglycemia was induced by additional GLDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of additional GLDs tends to improve glycemic outcomes and reduce insulin requirements in patients with T1DM. These results indicate that the use of GLDs as an adjunctive therapy may have been an effective treatment strategy among adults with T1DM in China.

Effects of dapagliflozin on body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Evidence‑based practice

The dose-dependent pharmacological response to dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with regard to weight loss remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dapagliflozin on weight loss in patients with T2DM. A total of 8,545 patients with T2DM from 24 randomized controlled trials reported in the literature were selected for inclusion in the study. Data from these trials were analyzed using maximal effect (Emax) models with nonlinear mixed effects modeling; the evaluation index was the body weight change rate from baseline values. Patients treated with 2.5 mg/day dapagliflozin exhibited an Emax of -3.04%, and the time taken for therapy to reach half of the Emax (ET50) was estimated to be 30.8 weeks for patients treated with this dose. Patients treated with 5, 10 and 20 mg/day dapagliflozin exhibited Emax values of -6.57, -4.12 and -3.23%, respectively, and their ET50 values were estimated to be 27.3, 20.4 and 4.23 weeks, respectively. The data indicated ideal linear relationships between individual predictions and observations, suggesting the optimal fitting of the final models. The present study is the first systematic analysis of the effect of dapagliflozin on weight loss in patients with T2DM. The application of dapagliflozin at 5 mg/day exhibited a greater weight loss effect compared with the other doses used, and the weight loss onset time shortened as the dose of dapagliflozin increased.

Risks and Benefits of SGLT-2 Inhibitors for Type 1 Diabetes Patients Using Automated Insulin Delivery Systems-A Literature Review

The primary treatment for autoimmune Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus-T1DM) is insulin therapy. Unfortunately, a multitude of clinical cases has demonstrated that the use of insulin as a sole therapeutic intervention fails to address all issues comprehensively. Therefore, non-insulin adjunct treatment has been investigated and shown successful results in clinical trials. Various hypoglycemia-inducing drugs such as Metformin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, amylin analogs, and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporters 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, developed good outcomes in patients with T1DM. Currently, SGLT-2 inhibitors have remarkably improved the treatment of patients with diabetes by preventing cardiovascular events, heart failure hospitalization, and progression of renal disease. However, their pharmacological potential has not been explored enough. Thus, the substantial interest in SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) underlines the present review. It begins with an overview of carrier-mediated cellular glucose uptake, evidencing the insulin-independent transport system contribution to glucose homeostasis and the essential roles of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporters 1 and 2. Then, the pharmacological properties of SGLT-2is are detailed, leading to potential applications in treating T1DM patients with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. Results from several studies demonstrated improvements in glycemic control, an increase in Time in Range (TIR), a decrease in glycemic variability, reduced daily insulin requirements without increasing hyperglycemic events, and benefits in weight management. However, these advantages are counterbalanced by increased risks, particularly concerning Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Several clinical trials reported a higher incidence of DKA when patients with T1DM received SGLT-2 inhibitors such as Sotagliflozin and Empagliflozin. On the other hand, patients with T1DM and a body mass index (BMI) of ≥27 kg/m2 treated with Dapagliflozin showed similar reduction in hyperglycemia and body weight and insignificantly increased DKA incidence compared to the overall trial population. Additional multicenter and randomized studies are required to establish safer and more effective long-term strategies based on patient selection, education, and continuous ketone body monitoring for optimal integration of SGLT-2 inhibitors into T1DM therapeutic protocol.