Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists compared with basal insulins for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

GLP-1 RA for cardiometabolic risk reduction in obesity - How do we best describe benefit and value?

How do we assess the overall benefit and value of GLP1-RAs? Current clinical trials often focus narrowly on individual atherosclerotic cardiovascular endpoints like MACE, potentially missing broader GLP-1 RA benefits across multiple comorbidities. Herein, we set out a framework for expanding outcome analyses in large trials that we believe will provide a more holistic understanding of GLP-1 RA benefits across the cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) spectrum, guiding patient care, guidelines, and insurance coverage decisions.

Glycemic and Cost Outcomes among Hispanic/Latino People with Type 2 Diabetes in the USA Initiating Dulaglutide versus Basal Insulin: a Real-World Study

INTRODUCTION

Optimal glycemic management after diabetes onset remains a challenge in Hispanic/Latino adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), often resulting in poor health outcomes and higher rates of diabetes-related complications. The aim of this study was to examine and compare demographic and clinical characteristics, glycemic outcomes, health care resource utilization (HCRU), and costs among injection-naïve Hispanic/Latino adults with T2D initiating dulaglutide or basal insulin.

METHODS

This retrospective, observational study used administrative claims data from the Optum Research Database. Hispanic/Latino adults with T2D were assigned to dulaglutide or basal insulin cohorts on the basis of pharmacy claims and were propensity-score matched on demographic and baseline characteristics. Measures of glycemic management included 12 month follow-up glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and change in HbA1c from baseline. Follow-up all-cause and diabetes-related HCRU and costs, including costs per 1% change in HbA1c, were compared between cohorts.

RESULTS

The final propensity-score matched sample included 2872 patients: 1436 patients in each cohort. Mean (SD) reduction in HbA1c from baseline to 12 month follow-up was greater in the dulaglutide cohort compared with the basal insulin cohort [-1.40% (1.88) versus -0.92% (2.07); p < 0.001]. The dulaglutide cohort had significantly lower proportions of patients with ≥ 1 all-cause and diabetes-related outpatient visits, emergency room visits, and inpatient stays compared with the basal insulin cohort (p < 0.05). The dulaglutide cohort had significantly lower all-cause total costs per 1% HbA1c reduction than the basal insulin cohort ($13,768 versus $19,128; p < 0.001). Diabetes-related costs per 1% reduction were numerically lower for the dulaglutide cohort, but the difference was not statistically significant ($9737 versus $11,403; p = 0.081).

CONCLUSIONS

Dulaglutide demonstrated better glycemic outcomes and lower all-cause costs per 1% HbA1c reduction among Hispanic/Latino adults compared with those initiating basal insulin. Our real-world findings in the Hispanic/Latino population were consistent with results obtained from the overall population and confirm the glycemic benefits of dulaglutide observed in clinical settings.

Semaglutide Improves Liver Steatosis and De Novo Lipogenesis Markers in Obese and Type-2-Diabetic Mice with Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent clinical condition associated with elevated morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with MASLD treated with semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, demonstrate improvement in terms of liver damage. However, the mechanisms underlaying this beneficial effect are not yet fully elucidated. We investigated the efficacy of semaglutide in halting MASLD progression using a genetic mouse model of diabesity. Leptin-receptor-deficient mice with obesity and diabetes (BKS db/db) were either untreated or administered with semaglutide for 11 weeks. Changes in food and water intake, body weight and glycemia were monitored throughout the study. Body fat composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Upon sacrifice, serum biochemical parameters, liver morphology, lipidomic profile and liver-lipid-related pathways were evaluated. The semaglutide-treated mice exhibited lower levels of glycemia, body weight, serum markers of liver dysfunction and total and percentage of fat mass compared to untreated db/db mice without a significant reduction in food intake. Histologically, semaglutide reduced hepatic steatosis, hepatocellular ballooning and intrahepatic triglycerides. Furthermore, the treatment ameliorated the hepatic expression of de novo lipogenesis markers and modified lipid composition by increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The administration of semaglutide to leptin-receptor-deficient, hyperphagic and diabetic mice resulted in the amelioration of MASLD, likely independently of daily caloric intake, suggesting a direct effect of semaglutide on the liver through modulation of the lipid profile.

Revolutionizing diabetes care: unveiling tirzepatide's potential in glycemic control and beyond

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is a global public health challenge with rising prevalence. This review explores current diabetes understanding, diagnostic and management guidelines, economic impact, and lifestyle modifications as the primary approach.

AREAS COVERED

Focusing on pharmacological interventions, we discuss the roles of GLP-1 agonists and GLP/GIP agonists in diabetes management and cardiovascular risk reduction. Tirzepatide, a novel medication, is highlighted for its unique mechanism of action. Clinical trials demonstrate its effectiveness in glucose control, weight reduction, and its potential impact on diabetes, obesity, NASH, and cardiovascular risks.

EXPERT OPINION

Tirzepatide shows promise in diabetes treatment, offering glucose control and weight loss. It also holds potential for addressing comorbidities. However, cautious use is vital due to potential adverse effects and contraindications, including hypersensitivity reactions, pregnancy, and breastfeeding precautions. This review underscores tirzepatide as a valuable addition to diabetes therapies, with evolving prospects for enhanced patient outcomes as research advances.

Guideline for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in China (2024 Edition)

With the deepening of aging in China, the prevalence of diabetes in older people has increased noticeably, and standardized diabetes management is critical for improving clinical outcomes of diabetes in older people. In 2021, the National Center of Gerontology, Chinese Society of Geriatrics, and Diabetes Professional Committee of Chinese Aging Well Association organized experts to write the first guideline for diabetes diagnosis and treatment in older people in China, the Guideline for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in China (2021 Edition). The guideline emphasizes that older patients with diabetes are a highly heterogeneous group requiring comprehensive assessment and stratified and individualized management strategies. The guideline proposes simple treatments and de-intensified treatment strategies for older patients with diabetes. This edition of the guideline provides clinicians with practical and operable clinical guidance, thus greatly contributing to the comprehensive and full-cycle standardized management of older patients with diabetes in China and promoting the extensive development of clinical and basic research on diabetes in older people and related fields. In the past 3 years, evidence-based medicine for older patients with diabetes and related fields has further advanced, and new treatment concepts, drugs, and technologies have been developed. The guideline editorial committee promptly updated the first edition of the guideline and compiled the Guideline for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly in China (2024 Edition). More precise management paths for older patients with diabetes are proposed, for achieving continued standardization of the management of older Chinese patients with diabetes and improving their clinical outcomes.

First-line treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetic population at low risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis

Background

The benefit of first-line use of sodium-dependent glucose transport 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with low risk of cardiovascular diseases are not clear.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials. We used the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess the dichotomous and continuous variable, respectively.

Results

Thirteen studies involving 2,885 T2DM at low risk of cardiovascular diseases were included. Compared to placebo, first line use of SGLT2i significantly reduced glycosylated hemoglobin type A1C (HbA1c) (MD: -0.72), weight (MD: -1.32) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (MD: -27.05) levels. Compared with metformin, SGLT2i reduced body weight (MD: -1.50) and FPG (MD: -10.13) more effectively, with similar reduction for HbA1c (MD: -0.05). No significant increased safety adverse was found for SGLT2i, including nasopharyngitis (OR: 1.07), urinary tract infection (OR: 2.31), diarrhea (OR: 1.18) and hypoglycemia (OR: 1.06). GLP-1RAs significantly reduced HbA1c (MD: -1.13), weight (MD: -2.12) and FPG (MD: -31.44) levels as first-line therapy compared to placebo. GLP-1RAs significantly increased occurrence of diarrhea (OR: 2.18), hypoglycemia (OR: 3.10), vomiting (OR: 8.22), and nausea (OR: 4.41).

Conclusion

First line use of SGLT2i and GLP-1RAs is effective in reducing HbA1c, weight, and FPG levels in T2DM patients at low risk for cardiovascular disease. SGLT2i may be superior to metformin in controlling body weight and FPG. GLP-1RAs may increase the occurrence of diarrhea, hypoglycemia, vomiting, and nausea.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. https://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd, CRD42022347233).

9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Management of type 2 diabetes in the new era

PURPOSE

Management of type 2 diabetes is advancing beyond glycemic control and is increasingly based on cardiovascular risk stratification. This review summarizes recent advances in the field and identifies existing knowledge gaps and areas of ongoing research.

METHODS

A bibliographic search was carried out in PubMed for recently published cardiorenal outcome trials, relevant guidelines, and studies on antidiabetic agents in the pipeline.

RESULTS

Findings from cardiovascular outcome trials support the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors for patients with established cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors, although it as yet remains uncertain whether the benefits are transferable to patients at lower absolute cardiovascular risk. Additionally, robust evidence suggests that SGLT-2 inhibitors improve clinical outcomes for people with concomitant heart failure or chronic kidney disease. Gut hormone multiagonists will likely represent another major addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for morbidly obese individuals with diabetes. Moreover, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common comorbidity and several liver outcome trials are awaited with great interest. Use of insulin as first-line injectable therapy has been displaced by GLP-1 receptor agonists. Once-weekly formulations of basal insulins along with combinations with GLP-1 receptor agonists are also under development and could increase patient convenience. Technologies of glucose sensors are rapidly evolving and have the potential to reduce the burden of frequent blood glucose measurements, mainly for patients treated with intensified insulin regimens.

CONCLUSION

Management of type 2 diabetes requires a holistic approach and recent breakthroughs are expected to improve the quality of care.

Glycemic and Economic Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Initiating Dulaglutide Versus Basal Insulin in a Real-World Setting in the United States: The DISPEL-Advance Study

INTRODUCTION

Treatments like glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists carry low hypoglycemia risk and are recommended for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), while some routine treatments, like insulin, increase hypoglycemia risk. The DISPEL-Advance (Dulaglutide vs Basal InSulin in Injection Naïve Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Effectiveness in ReaL World) study compared glycemic outcomes, healthcare resource utilization, and costs in elderly patients with T2D who initiated treatment with dulaglutide versus those initiating treatment with basal insulin.

METHODS

This observational, retrospective cohort study used data from the Optum Research Database. Medicare Advantage patients (≥ 65 years) with T2D were assigned to dulaglutide or basal insulin cohorts based on pharmacy claims and propensity score matched on demographic and baseline characteristics. Change in HbA1c, 12-months follow-up HbA1c, and follow-up all-cause and diabetes-related healthcare resource utilization and costs were compared.

RESULTS

Propensity score matching yielded well-balanced cohorts with 1891 patients each (mean age: dulaglutide, 72.09 years; basal insulin, 72.56 years). The dulaglutide cohort had significantly greater mean HbA1c reduction from baseline to follow-up than basal insulin cohort (- 0.95% vs - 0.69%; p < 0.001). The dulaglutide cohort had significantly lower mean all-cause and diabetes-related medical costs (all-cause: $8306 vs $12,176; diabetes-related: $4681 vs $7582 respectively; p < 0.001) and lower mean all-cause total costs ($18,646 vs $20,972, respectively; p = 0.007) than basal insulin cohort. The dulaglutide cohort had significantly lower all-cause and diabetes-related total costs per 1% change in HbA1c than basal insulin cohort (all-cause: $19,729 vs $30,334; diabetes-related: $12,842 vs $17,288, respectively; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with T2D initiating dulaglutide had greater HbA1c reduction, lower mean all-cause medical and total costs, lower diabetes-related medical costs, and lower total all-cause and diabetes-related costs per 1% change in HbA1c than patients initiating basal insulin. Future studies assessing medications that do not increase hypoglycemia risk could help inform therapeutic strategies in elderly patients.

The efficacy and safety of beinaglutide alone or in combination with insulin glargine in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are inadequately controlled with oral antihyperglycemic therapy: A multicenter, open-label, randomized trial

BACKGROUND

To compare glycemic control in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) whose blood glucose levels were inadequately controlled with oral antidiabetic drugs after beinaglutide alone or combined with insulin glargine (IGlar).

METHODS

In this 16-week multicenter, randomized clinical trial, 68 participants randomly received beinaglutide or IGlar for 8 weeks, then the two drugs in combination for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were the proportion of individuals achieving their glycemic target and the change in glucose variability as measured with a continuous glucose monitoring system from baseline to 8 and 16 weeks.

RESULTS

Both the beinaglutide and IGlar groups showed increased proportions achieving their glycemic target at 8 weeks, and the combination augmented the proportion reaching the glycated hemoglobin target from 25.42% at 8 weeks to 40.68% at 16 weeks. The beinaglutide group showed a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure. Beinaglutide elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 0.08 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00-0.16), and diminished low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 0.21 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.05-0.48), whereas IGlar showed no effect. Though IGlar was more efficient in lowering fasting plasma glucose than beinaglutide at comparable efficacies (to -1.57 mmol/L [95% CI, -2.60 to -0.54]), this difference was abolished in patients whose fasting C-peptide was ≥0.9 ng/mL.

CONCLUSION

Beinaglutide exhibited a favorable hypoglycemic effect on patients with T2DM, and in combination with IGlar, glucose level was further decreased. Low fasting C-peptide in patients may reduce the glycemic response to beinaglutide therapy. We recommend that C-peptide levels be evaluated when using or switching to the novel glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists beinaglutide.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03829891.

Advances in the management of type 2 diabetes in adults

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic and progressive cardiometabolic disorder that affects more than 10% of adults worldwide and is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, disability, and high costs. Over the past decade, the pattern of management of diabetes has shifted from a predominantly glucose centric approach, focused on lowering levels of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), to a directed complications centric approach, aimed at preventing short term and long term complications of diabetes, and a pathogenesis centric approach, which looks at the underlying metabolic dysfunction of excess adiposity that both causes and complicates the management of diabetes. In this review, we discuss the latest advances in patient centred care for type 2 diabetes, focusing on drug and non-drug approaches to reducing the risks of complications of diabetes in adults. We also discuss the effects of social determinants of health on the management of diabetes, particularly as they affect the treatment of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes.

Comparing the effectiveness of long-term use of daily and weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists treatments in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a network meta-analysis

Objective

In the present network meta-analysis (NMA), we aimed to compare the effectiveness of daily and weekly treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Method

We used Stata 17.0 for the NMA. Eligible Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases until December 2022. Two researchers independently screened the available studies. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. We used GRADEprofiler (version3.6) to analyze the evidence certainty. Primary outcomes such as liver fat content (LFC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, as well as secondary outcomes such as γ-glutamyltransferase (γGGT) and body weight, were evaluated. Then, each intervention was ranked by the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). As a supplement, we drew forest plots of subgroup using RevMan (version 5.4).

Results

Fourteen RCTs involving 1666 participants were included in the present study. The NMA results showed that exenatide (bid) was the best treatment for improving LFC compared with other agents, liraglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide (qw) and placebo), and the SUCRA values were 66.8%. Among five interventions (except exenatide (bid) and semaglutide (qw)) evaluated for AST outcome, and six interventions (except exenatide (bid)) evaluated for ALT outcome, semaglutide (qd) was the most effective drug (SUCRA (AST) = 100%, SUCRA (ALT) = 95.6%). The result of LFC in daily group was MD = -3.66, 95% CI [-5.56, -1.76] and in weekly GLP-1RAs group, it was MD = -3.51, 95% CI [-4, -3.02]. As to AST and ALT, the results in daily group versus weekly group were AST: MD = -7.45, 95% CI [-14.57, -0.32] versus MD= -0.58, 95% CI [-3.18, 2.01] and ALT: MD = -11.12, 95% CI [-24.18, 1.95] versus MD = -5.62, 95% CI [-15.25, 4]. The quality of evidence was assessed as moderate or low.

Conclusion

The daily GLP-1RAs may be more effective in primary outcomes. And the daily semaglutide may be the most effective treatment for NAFLD and T2DM among the six interventions.

Real-World Patterns of Basal Insulin Use with Other Diabetes Medications Among People with Type 2 Diabetes Between 2014 and 2020

INTRODUCTION

Basal insulin's position in the type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment paradigm has undergone significant revisions since the advent of diabetes medications such as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is), which offer cardiorenal protection for people with T2D (PwT2D). This study aimed to characterize the demographic, clinical, and diabetes medication utilization patterns of PwT2D initiating basal insulin between 2014 and 2020 over the time period when these revisions were occurring.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted using the IBM^® MarketScan^® databases and included adults with T2D who initiated basal insulin therapy (basal insulin initiators) in 2015, 2017, or 2019. Patient characteristics, medication utilization patterns, and time to add an additional diabetes drug class were compared across years. Characteristics of users of basal insulin-GLP-1RA combination therapy (GLP-1RA-basal insulin dual users) were also compared across years.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2019, initiation of basal insulin therapy remained steady, with 1.6-1.9% of PwT2D starting basal insulin in each year. GLP-1RA and SGLT-2i use increased pre- and post-basal insulin initiation (pre-basal: GLP-1RA, from 14.8% to 25.2%, p < 0.0001; SGLT-2i, from 11.4% to 20.5%, p < 0.0001; post-basal: GLP-1RA, from 16.7% to 30.5%, p < 0.0001; SGLT-2i, from 13.4% to 23.3%, p < 0.0001]). The proportion of PwT2D with underlying cardiovascular and renal diseases did not increase during this period. Among basal insulin initiators without prior GLP-1RA, SGLT-2i, or bolus insulin use, time to adding on these agents decreased, with 14.0-15.6% starting bolus insulin within the first year. Among GLP-1RA-basal insulin dual initiators, the proportion of those with underlying cardiovascular disease was not higher among GLP-1RA first users.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world study, insulin remained key in the T2D treatment paradigm. A growing proportion of PwT2D utilized GLP-1RAs and SGLT-2is before and after initiation of basal insulin therapy. At the same time, there was no increase in the proportion of those initiating basal insulin who had cardiorenal comorbidity profiles for which treatment guidelines have recommended the use of GLP-1RAs or SGLT-2is.

9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

[Injection therapy of diabetes]

The present article is a recommendation of the Austrian Diabetes Association for the practical use of injection therapy (GLP1-receptor agonists and insulin) in type 2 diabetes.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists Have the Potential to Revolutionize the Attainment of Target A1C Levels in Type 2 Diabetes-So Why Is Their Uptake So Low?

A target A1C of <7% is the recommended goal for most people with type 2 diabetes. However, many are not achieving this target with their current treatment. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are highly efficacious in achieving glycemic control and could aid primary care providers (PCPs) in getting patients to their A1C target. However, despite their potential, use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the primary care setting is limited. This review provides guidance for PCPs on how to help patients achieve their glycemic target and overcome perceived barriers of GLP-1 receptor agonist use, with the overall goal of improving PCP confidence in prescribing these agents.

Efficacy and safety of dulaglutide compared with the first-line hypoglycemic drugs in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To assess the efficacy and safety of dulaglutide in the treatment of Asian type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), along with first-line hypoglycemic drugs. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Embase, and www.clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched from inception to September 27, 2022. The studies evaluating adults (≥ 18 years) undergoing dulaglutide (0.75 mg and 1.5 mg) and first-line hypoglycemic drugs were considered. There were only English languages. We used Stata 12.0 software to detect the risk of bias. 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 1 observational study. Both dulaglutide 0.75 mg dose group and 1.5 mg dose group could significantly reduce HbA1c [Dulaglutide 0.75 mg: WMD = - 0.20, 95% CI (- 0.28, - 0.11), P < 0.0001; Dulaglutide 1.5 mg: WMD = - 0.49, 95% CI (- 0.67, - 0.30), P < 0.0001] in Asian T2DM patients. In reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, there was no significant difference observed in 2 dose groups. The body weight of patients in both dulaglutide dose groups was significantly reduced. In safety, the incidence of adverse events in the dulaglutide 0.75 mg dose group was slightly higher than that in the first-line drug group, but there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the 1.5 mg dose group and the first-line drug group. Furthermore, the incidences of hypoglycemic events in both groups were higher than that in the first-line drug group. Two doses of dulaglutide showed better efficacy for Asian T2DM patients, but patients should be vigilant about the occurrence of hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal discomfort. However, more number and better quality of RCTs are suggested to confirm long-term safety and efficacy.

Cost-Effectiveness of Dulaglutide Versus Liraglutide for Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Iran

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus (DM), as one of the most common metabolic diseases, is the ninth leading cause of death globally and imposes heavy costs on the health systems including both costs of treatment and management of secondary complications. This study intended to investigate the cost-effectiveness of dulaglutide compared with liraglutide in the management of patients with type 2 DM in Iran.

METHOD

We conducted a cost-utility analysis using a 5-state Markov model from the health system perspective, over a 10-year time horizon, in 2018 in Iran. Sensitivity of the model has been evaluated through tornado diagram and using one-way sensitivity analysis. In addition, probabilistic sensitivity analysis has been accomplished using Monte Carlo simulation.

RESULTS

The average costs of treatment of patients with type 2 DM using the dulaglutide and liraglutide treatment regimens are 17 577.09 and 18 517.54 US dollars per patient, respectively, over a 10-year time horizon. In terms of effectiveness, the average discounted quality-adjusted life-year rates are estimated at 5.560 and 5.403 for the dulaglutide and liraglutide treatment regimens, respectively. The model is mostly sensitive to the price of dulaglutide and liraglutide, the hemoglobin A1c reduction of liraglutide, and the utility resulting from less injection frequency of dulaglutide, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Dulaglutide, in addition to being more effective, providing 0.156 more quality-adjusted life-years for the patients, reduces costs by 940.45 US dollars per patient over a 10-year time horizon. Therefore, due to the greater effectiveness and lower cost, it is concludable that dulaglutide is the cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio = -6028.52) treatment alternative from the health system perspective.

Expert Panel Guidance and Narrative Review of Treatment Simplification of Complex Insulin Regimens to Improve Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes

Given the progressive nature of type 2 diabetes (T2D), most individuals with the disease will ultimately undergo treatment intensification. This usually involves the stepwise addition of a new glucose-lowering agent or switching to a more complex insulin regimen. However, complex treatment regimens can result in an increased risk of hypoglycaemia and high treatment burden, which may impact negatively on both therapeutic adherence and overall quality of life. Individuals with good glycaemic control may also be overtreated with unnecessarily complex regimens. Treatment simplification aims to reduce individual treatment burden, without compromising therapeutic effectiveness or safety. Despite data showing that simplifying therapy can achieve good glycaemic control without negatively impacting on treatment efficacy or safety, it is not always implemented in clinical practice. Current clinical guidelines focus on treatment intensification, rather than simplification. Where simplification is recommended, clear guidance is lacking and mostly focused on treatment of the elderly. An expert, multidisciplinary panel evaluated the current treatment landscape with respect to guidance, published evidence, recommendations and approaches regarding simplification of complex insulin regimens. This article outlines the benefits of treatment simplification and provides practical recommendations on simplifying complex insulin treatment strategies in people with T2D using illustrative cases.

Trends in basal insulin prescribing in older adults with chronic kidney disease in Ontario, Canada: A population-based analysis from 2010 to 2020

AIM

To examine trends in basal insulin prescribing in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a population-based study of adults aged 66 years or older with treated diabetes from 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2020 in Ontario, Canada. We examined prevalent and incident prescriptions for human NPH, Levemir, glargine-100, Basaglar, glargine-300, and degludec insulin over 43 study intervals. We present trends in those with CKD, and in a subgroup, by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). To provide context for prescribing, we provide demographics, co-morbidities, and the healthcare utilization of included patients.

RESULTS

In CKD, use of basal insulin was about 2-fold higher than in the general treated diabetes cohort. Prescriptions for NPH declined over time, while prescriptions for Levemir and glargine-100 increased until 2018 then decreased. Following drug formulary approval (September 2018), prescriptions for glargine-300 and degludec increased substantially. Incident prescriptions for basal insulin in CKD declined over time; however, in those with an eGFR of less than 30 ml/min/1.73m² , rates remained stable. In recent years, rates of degludec and glargine-300 have rivalled glargine-100.

CONCLUSIONS

In an era of new oral and injectable diabetes medications, the use of basal insulin has declined in older adults with CKD. However, in those with more advanced CKD, basal insulin, particularly newer analogues, remain a mainstay treatment.

The Longer-Term Benefits and Harms of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous meta-analyses of the benefits and harms of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) have been limited to specific outcomes and comparisons and often included short-term results. We aimed to estimate the longer-term effects of GLP1RAs on cardiovascular risk factors, microvascular and macrovascular complications, mortality, and adverse events in patients with type 2 diabetes, compared to placebo and other anti-hyperglycemic medications.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov (inception-July 2019) for randomized controlled trials ≥ 52 weeks' duration that compared a GLP1RA to placebo or other anti-hyperglycemic medication and included at least one outcome of interest. Outcomes included cardiovascular risk factors, microvascular and macrovascular complications, all-cause mortality, and treatment-related adverse events. We performed random effects meta-analyses to give summary estimates using weighted mean differences (MD) and pooled relative risks (RR). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias in randomized trials tool. Quality of evidence was summarized using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. The study was registered a priori with PROSPERO (CRD42018090506).

RESULTS

Forty-five trials with a mean duration of 1.7 years comprising 71,517 patients were included. Compared to placebo, GLP1RAs reduced cardiovascular risk factors, microvascular complications (including renal events, RR 0.85, 0.80-0.90), macrovascular complications (including stroke, RR 0.86, 0.78-0.95), and mortality (RR 0.89, 0.84-0.94). Compared to other anti-hyperglycemic medications, GLP1RAs only reduced cardiovascular risk factors. Increased gastrointestinal events causing treatment discontinuation were observed in both comparisons.

DISCUSSION

GLP1RAs reduced cardiovascular risk factors and increased gastrointestinal events compared to placebo and other anti-hyperglycemic medications. GLP1RAs also reduced MACE, stroke, renal events, and mortality in comparisons with placebo; however, analyses were inconclusive for comparisons with other anti-hyperglycemic medications. Given the high costs of GLP1RAs, the lack of long-term evidence comparing GLP1RAs to other anti-hyperglycemic medications has significant policy and clinical practice implications.

Insulin-GLP-1 receptor agonist relay and GLP-1 receptor agonist first regimens in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, open-label trial study

Aims/Introduction

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RA) might be less effective in patients with severe hyperglycemia, because hyperglycemia downregulated the GLP‐1 receptor in an animal study. To examine this hypothesis clinically, we compared the glucose‐lowering effects of GLP‐1 receptor agonist liraglutide with and without prior glycemic control.

Materials and Methods

In an open‐label, parallel trial, participants with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were recruited and randomized to receive once‐daily insulin therapy, degludec (Insulin–GLP‐1 RA relay group, mean 16.8 ± 11.4 IU/day), for 12 weeks and then liraglutide for 12 weeks or subcutaneous injections of GLP‐1 RA, liraglutide (GLP‐1 RA first group, 0.9 mg), for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐points consisted of changes in the levels of fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Results

The median fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c before the study were 210.0 mg/dL and 9.8%, respectively. The levels of fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c significantly decreased in the Insulin–GLP‐1 RA relay group (P < 0.001) and GLP‐1 RA first group (P < 0.001) by week 24, although no intergroup differences were observed. The reduction of HbA1c in the Insulin–GLP‐1 RA relay group tended to be larger than that in the GLP‐1 RA first group in the lowest CPR (C‐peptide immunoreactivity) quartile (P = 0.072). The adverse events consisted of gastrointestinal problems, followed by hypoglycemia.

Conclusions

The GLP‐1 receptor agonist is overall effective without prior glycemic control with insulin in participants with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. However, in participants with insulinopenic type 2 diabetes, prior glycemic control with insulin might overcome glucose toxicity‐induced GLP‐1 resistance.

9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2022

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-SPPC), are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations, please refer to the Standards of Care Introduction (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-SINT). Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Switching from insulin to dulaglutide therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: A real-world data study

AIM

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who require injectable therapy have been conventionally treated with insulin. A glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist was recently recommended as first-line injectable treatment, but few studies have investigated the effects of switching from insulin to dulaglutide. This study investigated the clinical efficacy and parameters affecting responses to dulaglutide as an alternative to insulin in patients with T2DM in a real-world clinical setting.

METHODS

Ninety-eight patients with T2DM who were switched from insulin to dulaglutide therapy were retrospectively evaluated. Changes in HbA1c concentrations were assessed after 6 months of consistent treatment with dulaglutide. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate parameters affecting the response to dulaglutide treatment.

RESULTS

After treatment with dulaglutide for 6 months, patients experienced changes in HbA1c of -0.95% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.30% to -0.59%, P < 0.001) and in body weight of -1.75 kg (95% CI: -2.42 to -1.08 kg, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher baseline HbA1c was significantly associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c. The most frequent adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Switching from insulin to dulaglutide can lead to significant improvement in HbA1c levels and body weight ​reduction in T2DM patients over 6 months. Higher baseline HbA1c is associated with a better clinical response to dulaglutide.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanism of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and exendin-4 synergistically promoted periodontal ligament stem cells osteogenic differentiation

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and Exendin-4 (EX-4) play beneficial roles in promoting periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) osteogenic differentiation, while the detailed mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the biological mechanism of SDF-1 and EX-4 alone or synergistic application in regulating PDLSCs differentiation by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). A total of 110, 116 and 109 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were generated in osteogenic medium induced PDLSCs treated by SDF-1, EX-4, and SDF-1+EX-4, respectively. The DEGs in SDF-1 group were enriched in signal transduction related signaling pathways; the DEGs in EX-4 group were enriched in metabolism and biosynthesis-related pathways; and the DEGs generated in SDF-1+EX-4 group were mainly enriched in RNA polymerase II transcription, cell differentiation, chromatin organization, protein phosphorylation pathways. Based on Venn analysis, a total of 37 specific DEGs were identified in SDF-1+EX-4 group, which were mainly enriched in negative regulation of autophagy and cellular component disassembly signaling pathways. Short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis grouped all expressed genes of PDLSCs into 49 clusters according to the dynamic expression patterns and 25 genes, including NRSN2, CHD9, TUBA1A, distributed in 10 gene clusters in SDF-1+EX-4 treated PDLSCs were significantly up-regulated compared with the SDF-1 and EX-4 alone groups. The gene set enrichment analysis indicated that SDF-1 could amplify the role of EX-4 in regulating varied signaling pathways, such as type II diabetes mellitus and insulin signaling pathways; while EX-4 could aggravate the effect of SDF-1 on PDLSCs biological roles via regulating primary immunodeficiency, tight junction signaling pathways. In summary, our study confirmed that SDF-1 and EX-4 combined application could enhance PDLSCs biological activity and promote PDLSCs osteogenic differentiation by regulating the metabolism, biosynthesis and immune-related signaling pathways.

A practical approach to the clinical challenges in initiation of basal insulin therapy in people with type 2 diabetes

Initiating insulin therapy with a basal insulin analogue has become a standard of care in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite increasing choices in pharmacological approaches, intensified glucose monitoring and improvements in quality of care, many patients do not achieve the desired level of glycaemic control. Although insulin therapy, when optimized, can help patients reach their glycaemic goals, there are barriers to treatment initiation on both the side of the patient and provider. Providers experience barriers based on their perceptions of patients' capabilities and concerns. They may lack the confidence to solve the practical problems of insulin therapy and avoid decisions they perceive as risky for their patients. In this study, we review recommendations for basal insulin initiation, focussing on glycaemic targets, titration, monitoring, and combination therapy with non-insulin anti-hyperglycaemic medications. We provide practical advice on how to address some of the key problems encountered in everyday clinical practice and give recommendations where there are gaps in knowledge or guidelines. We also discuss common challenges faced by people with T2DM, such as weight gain and hypoglycaemia, and how providers can address and overcome them.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists-Use in Clinical Practice

In the past 2 decades, eight glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been approved for the management of type 2 diabetes, each with its peculiar molecular structure, pharmacokinetics, and metabolic effects. Along with their marked glucose-lowering actions, which occur both at fasting and in the postprandial phase without an increased risk of hypoglycemia, GLP-1RAs have provided marked reductions in body weight and ancillary improvements in blood pressure and lipid profile. Recent cardiovascular outcome trials have established the benefits of GLP-1RAs on major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, independent of glucose control, with minor effects on preventing hospitalization for heart failure. Novel evidence is also emerging on the protection of GLP-1RAs against diabetic kidney disease, mainly preventing the onset of macroalbuminuria. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cardiorenal protective properties of GLP-1RAs, which may be direct or mediated by additional hemodynamic and anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects. With their favorable cardiometabolic properties and safety profile, GLP-1RAs may offer an ideal pharmacological option for the management of diabetic kidney disease. In this review, we discuss pharmacokinetic properties, glucometabolic effects, and cardioprotective actions of GLP-1RAs, highlighting the available evidence for a kidney protective role and the proposed mechanisms.

A review of GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes: A focus on the mechanism of action of once-weekly agents

What is known and objective

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1 RAs) are one of the preferred approved treatment options for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and inadequate glycaemic control. The objective of this review is to provide a general clinical overview of the similarities and differences in the mechanisms of action (MoA) of the once‐weekly GLP‐1 RA class of medications, highlighting the role of pharmacists in providing optimal medication management, education and care for people with diabetes.

Methods

This is a narrative review of the published literature regarding the MoA of the currently available once‐weekly GLP‐1 RAs in T2D.

Results and discussion

GLP‐1 RAs have an established efficacy and safety profile. Their benefits derive from their blood glucose‐lowering effects, which include pancreatic beta‐cell‐mediated glucose‐dependent insulin secretion and suppressed glucagon release, and their ability to slow gastric emptying and promote satiety. GLP‐1 RAs may also exert beneficial effects on multiple organ systems in which GLP‐1 receptors are present, including the cardiovascular and renal systems. Differences between individual GLP‐1 RAs with regard to their molecular size, structure and duration of action (short or longer acting) have led to differing pharmacodynamics and clinical effects such as degree of glycaemic control, weight loss abilities, cardiovascular effects and tolerability profiles.

What is new and conclusion

From the literature, this appears to be the first review of the evidence base supporting the MoA of once‐weekly GLP‐1 RAs in T2D aimed at pharmacists, with a particular emphasis on the expanding role of pharmacists in team‐based diabetes management. As a class, GLP‐1 RAs are an effective treatment option for people with T2D, shown to achieve multi‐factorial clinical benefits. The results suggest that when selecting or advising about treatments, pharmacists should consider how the different once‐weekly GLP‐1 RAs and their MoA affect clinical outcomes in order to ensure optimal treatment for individuals.

Novel Approaches to Restore Pancreatic Beta-Cell Mass and Function

Beta-cell dysfunction and beta-cell death are critical events in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, the goals of modern T2DM management have shifted from merely restoring normoglycemia to maintaining or regenerating beta-cell mass and function. In this review we summarize current and novel approaches to achieve these goals, ranging from lifestyle interventions to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonism, and discuss the mechanisms underlying their effects on beta-cell physiology and glycemic control. Notably, timely intervention seems critical, but not always strictly required, to maximize the effect of any approach on beta-cell recovery and disease progression. Conventional antidiabetic medications are not disease-modifying in the sense that the disease does not progress or reoccur while on treatment or thereafter. More invasive approaches, such as bariatric surgery, are highly effective in restoring normoglycemia, but are reserved for a rather small proportion of obese individuals and sometimes associated with serious adverse events. Finally, we recapitulate the broad range of effects mediated by peripheral NMDARs and discuss recent evidence on the potential of NMDAR antagonists to be developed as a novel class of antidiabetic drugs. In the future, a more refined assessment of disease risk or disease subtype might enable more targeted therapies to prevent or treat diabetes.

GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of type 2 diabetes - state-of-the-art

BACKGROUND

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) with exenatide b.i.d. first approved to treat type 2 diabetes in 2005 have been further developed to yield effective compounds/preparations that have overcome the original problem of rapid elimination (short half-life), initially necessitating short intervals between injections (twice daily for exenatide b.i.d.).

SCOPE OF REVIEW

To summarize current knowledge about GLP-1 receptor agonist.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

At present, GLP-1 RAs are injected twice daily (exenatide b.i.d.), once daily (lixisenatide and liraglutide), or once weekly (exenatide once weekly, dulaglutide, albiglutide, and semaglutide). A daily oral preparation of semaglutide, which has demonstrated clinical effectiveness close to the once-weekly subcutaneous preparation, was recently approved. All GLP-1 RAs share common mechanisms of action: augmentation of hyperglycemia-induced insulin secretion, suppression of glucagon secretion at hyper- or euglycemia, deceleration of gastric emptying preventing large post-meal glycemic increments, and a reduction in calorie intake and body weight. Short-acting agents (exenatide b.i.d., lixisenatide) have reduced effectiveness on overnight and fasting plasma glucose, but maintain their effect on gastric emptying during long-term treatment. Long-acting GLP-1 RAs (liraglutide, once-weekly exenatide, dulaglutide, albiglutide, and semaglutide) have more profound effects on overnight and fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c, both on a background of oral glucose-lowering agents and in combination with basal insulin. Effects on gastric emptying decrease over time (tachyphylaxis). Given a similar, if not superior, effectiveness for HbA1c reduction with additional weight reduction and no intrinsic risk of hypoglycemic episodes, GLP-1RAs are recommended as the preferred first injectable glucose-lowering therapy for type 2 diabetes, even before insulin treatment. However, GLP-1 RAs can be combined with (basal) insulin in either free- or fixed-dose preparations. More recently developed agents, in particular semaglutide, are characterized by greater efficacy with respect to lowering plasma glucose as well as body weight. Since 2016, several cardiovascular (CV) outcome studies have shown that GLP-1 RAs can effectively prevent CV events such as acute myocardial infarction or stroke and associated mortality. Therefore, guidelines particularly recommend treatment with GLP-1 RAs in patients with pre-existing atherosclerotic vascular disease (for example, previous CV events). The evidence of similar effects in lower-risk subjects is not quite as strong. Since sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor treatment reduces CV events as well (with the effect mainly driven by a reduction in heart failure complications), the individual risk of ischemic or heart failure complications should guide the choice of treatment. GLP-1 RAs may also help prevent renal complications of type 2 diabetes. Other active research areas in the field of GLP-1 RAs are the definition of subgroups within the type 2 diabetes population who particularly benefit from treatment with GLP-1 RAs. These include pharmacogenomic approaches and the characterization of non-responders. Novel indications for GLP-1 RAs outside type 2 diabetes, such as type 1 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and psoriasis, are being explored. Thus, within 15 years of their initial introduction, GLP-1 RAs have become a well-established class of glucose-lowering agents that has the potential for further development and growing impact for treating type 2 diabetes and potentially other diseases.

Efficacy and safety of dulaglutide compared with glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

One of the effective and consistent ways to achieve glycaemic control for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is once-daily basal insulin. But it is also associated with adverse outcomes such as hypoglycaemia. Dulaglutide, a novel long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, may be a more suitable therapy. The present meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy and safety of once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide compared with insulin glargine for the treatment of T2DM.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library from inception to December 2020. Randomized clinical trials comparing dulaglutide with insulin glargine in adults with T2DM were included. Revman5.2 software was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We included 5 studies with 3383 randomized participants. Compared with insulin glargine, dulaglutide 1.5 mg led to greater mean HbA1c reduction (MD = -0.33%, 95% CI = -0.52, -0.15) whereas dulaglutide 0.75 mg did not (MD = -0.21%, 95% CI = -0.43, 0.01). Body weight loss was seen with dulaglutide whereas weight gain was seen with insulin glargine. The risk of hypoglycaemia was lower in dulaglutide 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg groups than in insulin glargine group,whereas dulaglutide had a statistically higher gastrointestinal adverse events incidence than insulin glargine.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS

Compared with insulin glargine, dulaglutide may serve as an effective alternative to provide improvement in glycaemic control with weight loss and less hypoglycaemia in patients with T2DM. It may be a more suitable therapy instead of basal insulin.

9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2021

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-SPPC), are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations, please refer to the Standards of Care Introduction (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-SINT). Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: Synopsis of the 2020 American Diabetes Association's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes Clinical Guideline

DESCRIPTION

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) updates the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes annually to provide clinicians, patients, researchers, payers, and other interested parties with evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of diabetes.

METHODS

To develop the 2020 Standards, the ADA Professional Practice Committee, comprising physicians, adult and pediatric endocrinologists, diabetes educators, registered dietitians, epidemiologists, pharmacists, and public health experts, continuously searched MEDLINE (English language only) from 15 October 2018 through August-September 2019 for pertinent studies, including high-quality trials that addressed pharmacologic management of type 2 diabetes. The committee selected and reviewed the studies, developed the recommendations, and solicited feedback from the larger clinical community.

RECOMMENDATIONS

This synopsis focuses on guidance relating to the pharmacologic treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Recommendations address oral and noninsulin injectable therapies, insulin treatment, and combination injectable therapies. Results of recent large trials with cardiovascular and renal outcomes are emphasized.

Practical use of insulin degludec/insulin aspart in a multinational setting: beyond the guidelines

Insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) is a fixed-ratio co-formulation of insulin degludec, which provides long-lasting basal insulin coverage, and insulin aspart, which targets postprandial glycaemia. This review provides expert opinion on the practical clinical use of IDegAsp, including: dose timings relative to meals, when and how to intensify treatment from once-daily (OD) to twice-daily (BID) dose adjustments, and use in special populations (including hospitalized patients). IDegAsp could be considered as one among the choices for initiating insulin treatment, preferential to starting on basal insulin alone, particularly for people with severe hyperglycaemia and/or when postprandial hyperglycaemia is a major concern. The recommended starting dose of IDegAsp is 10 units with the most carbohydrate-rich meal(s), followed by individualized dose adjustments. Insulin doses should be titrated once weekly in two-unit steps, guided by individualized fasting plasma glucose targets and based on patient goals, preferences and hypoglycaemia risk. Options for intensification from IDegAsp OD are discussed, which should be guided by HbA1c, prandial glucose levels, meal patterns and patient preferences. Recommendations for switching to IDegAsp from basal insulin, premixed insulins OD/BID, and basal-plus/basal-bolus regimens are discussed. IDegAsp can be co-administered with other antihyperglycaemic drugs; however, sulphonylureas frequently need to be discontinued or the dose reduced, and the IDegAsp dose may need to be decreased when sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are added. Considerations around the initiation or continuation of IDegAsp in hospitalized individuals are discussed, as well as in those undergoing medical procedures.

Efficacy and Safety of Once-Weekly Dulaglutide in Elderly Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Post Hoc Analysis of AWARD-CHN Studies

INTRODUCTION

This analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of dulaglutide in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) aged ≥ 60 and < 60 years.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis included patients with T2D enrolled in two phase 3 clinical trials AWARD-CHN1 (NCT01644500) and AWARD-CHN2 (NCT01648582) of dulaglutide 0.75 and 1.5 mg. Patients were categorized into two groups (≥ 60 and < 60 years). Efficacy outcomes (change in glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], fasting blood glucose [FBG], and weight; percentage of patients achieving HbA1c target [< 7.0%]) and safety outcomes (incidence of hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal treatment-emergent adverse events [GI TEAEs]) at 26 weeks were evaluated for each age group in both trials.

RESULTS

A total of 766 patients (≥ 60 years, n = 222; < 60 years, n = 544) were included in the study. A similar reduction of HbA1c was observed in both age groups: AWARD-CHN1, 1.5 mg (least squares mean [LSM] 95% confidence interval [CI] ≥ 60 years: - 1.45% [- 1.69, - 1.21%] and < 60 years: - 1.43% [- 1.59, - 1.28%]) and 0.75 mg (≥ 60 years: - 1.29% [- 1.53, - 1.05%] and < 60 years: - 1.18% [- 1.33, - 1.03%]); AWARD-CHN2, 1.5 mg (≥ 60 years: - 1.60% [- 1.83, - 1.36%] and < 60 years: - 1.64% [- 1.80, - 1.49%]) and 0.75 mg (≥ 60 years: - 1.31% [- 1.55, - 1.08%] and < 60 years: - 1.33% [- 1.48, - 1.17%]). Dulaglutide showed a reduction in HbA1c as early as 4 weeks after initiation of treatment, which was maintained over 26 weeks in both age groups. The percentage of patients achieving HbA1c target < 7.0% at 26 weeks was also similar in both age groups. Incidence of hypoglycemia and GI TEAEs was low in each age group.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with once-weekly dulaglutide improved glycemic control in patients with T2D aged ≥ 60 years and < 60 years and was well tolerated in older patients, suggesting it can be considered a safe and effective treatment option for use in older patients with T2D.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

AWARD-CHN1 (NCT01644500) and AWARD-CHN2 (NCT01648582).

Dulaglutide and Insulin: How Can the AWARD Studies Help Guide Clinical Practice?

The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) dulaglutide has many characteristics to recommend it both as a second-line agent and as an alternative to or in combination with insulin. This commentary summarises recent updates to diabetes management guidelines regarding the use of GLP-1RAs such as dulaglutide, both as a second-line agent and as a first-line injectable agent in type 2 diabetes (T2D). It also examines how the Assessment of Weekly AdministRation of LY2189265 [dulaglutide] in Diabetes (AWARD) studies with dulaglutide and insulin may help to guide clinical practice for the use of dulaglutide as an alternative to basal insulin or in combination with insulin.Individualising glucose-lowering therapy is important in patients with T2D, especially given patients' heterogeneity in terms of age, lifestyle, disease duration, level of hyperglycaemia and comorbidities. Choice of therapy should be guided by clinical considerations (e.g. high risk or existing cardiovascular [CV] disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, risk of hypoglycaemia), side effect profile, contraindications, patient preferences and cost. The recently updated American Diabetes Association/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (ADA/EASD) guidelines now recommend adding a GLP-1RA with proven CV benefit to metformin in patients with T2D and indicators of high risk or established atherosclerotic CV disease. The AWARD studies demonstrate that dulaglutide provides effective glucose lowering together with sustained weight loss and a low incidence of hypoglycaemia when used as the first injectable option and when used in combination with titrated basal insulin or prandial insulin, providing a valid treatment option across a wide range of patients with T2D, including those with chronic kidney disease.

A Real-World Observational Study Evaluating the Probability of Glycemic Control with Basal Insulin or Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The effectiveness of basal insulin (BI) or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in providing glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japanese routine practice is not well known. This real-world observational study evaluated the probability of achieving glycemic control in Japanese patients with T2D uncontrolled by oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) who initiated BI or GLP-1 RA therapy.

METHODS

Patients with T2D aged ≥ 18 years initiating BI or GLP-1 RA therapy following treatment with OADs were selected from real-world data (RWD) retrieved from a large electronic medical record database in Japan, using data from 01 January 2010 to 30 June 2019. Patients were required to have glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7% within 90 days prior to the first prescription of BI or GLP-1 RA. The probability of reaching first HbA1c < 7% was assessed over a 24-month period in cohorts of patients who initiated BI (n = 3477) or GLP-1 RA (n = 780) and in subcohorts by number of OADs at baseline (1, 2, or ≥ 3), HbA1c at baseline (≥ 7 to < 8%, ≥ 8 to < 9%, or ≥ 9%), and age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years).

RESULTS

Mean (standard deviation) baseline HbA1c was 9.4% (1.8%) and 8.8% (1.4%) in patients initiating BI or GLP-1 RA therapy, respectively. The cumulative probability of achieving glycemic control was 50.1% with BI and 60.3% with GLP-1 RA therapy, respectively, at 12 months, and 60.8% and 66.6%, respectively, at 24 months. Quarterly (3-month intervals) conditional probabilities of achieving glycemic control decreased over time and were < 10% after 12 months. Patients with more OADs or higher HbA1c at baseline had a lower probability of achieving glycemic control.

CONCLUSION

Among Japanese patients with T2D who initiated BI or GLP-1 RA therapy after treatment with OADs, the probability of reaching first glycemic control diminished over time. Further therapy intensification is warranted in patients who do not achieve glycemic control within 6-12 months with BI or GLP-1 RA, particularly those with high HbA1c or taking multiple OADs.

Use of incretin-based medications: what do current international recommendations suggest with respect to GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors?

In recent years guidelines for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have evolved substantially. Initially limited to a few glucose lowering agents, early guidelines predicated strict glycemic control as a main goal in the attempt to reduce the risk of long-term diabetic complications. Nowadays, guidelines are not limited to such a goal but include cardiovascular (and renal) protection. This rapid evolution was made possible by the introduction of new glucose lowering agents, which have been extensively tested in randomized clinical studies including large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs). In this review we will specifically consider the use of incretin-based medications in T2DM as recommended in the recent ADA/EASD consensus, and other international guidelines, with special consideration of their glucose-lowering efficacy, their cardiovascular (and renal) benefit, their effect on body weight and risk of hypoglycemia, as well as the economic implications for their use.

Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide Compared to Liraglutide: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus has been always one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the last decades. There exist a wide range of pharmacological agents for controlling this disease. However, these agents fare differently in terms of efficacy and safety. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare dulaglutide and liraglutide, two glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, in terms of efficacy and safety, drawing on a systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in January 2018. The articles were evaluated by two independent investigators and their quality was evaluated using Jadad scale and the Cochrane Collaboration’s tools. Finally, the eligible articles entered the study. HbA1c and FBS were considered as efficacy outcomes. Safety profile was evaluated based on several outcomes such as serious side effects and vital signs. Three articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results indicated that the mean difference (MD) of HbA1c reduction was -0.10% (95% CI, -0.20% to -0.01%, P=0.03) in the patients who received dulaglutide in comparison with the patients who received liraglutide. In addition, dulaglutide was safer than liraglutide in terms of gastrointestinal problems (RR=0.85, 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.99, P=0.04, I²=55%) and heart rate (RR=-1.14, 95% CI, -1.90 to -0.38, P=0.003, I²=0%). Once-weekly dulaglutide showed a further reduction in HbA1c compared to once-daily liraglutide. However, comparisons between these regimens indicated no significant difference between groups in either FBS reduction or safety profile. Similarly, no statistically significant difference was observed in treatment discontinuation, hypoglycemia events, and vital signs.

9. Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2020

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-SPPC), are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations, please refer to the Standards of Care Introduction (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-SINT). Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Liraglutide as Adjunct to Insulin Treatment in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A few Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) have evaluated the use of liraglutide in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Through the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim at critically appraising and summarizing those RCTs, providing precise effect estimates.

METHODS

We searched major databases and grey literature from their inception to October 2018, for RCTs with a duration ≥ 12 weeks, comparing liraglutide with placebo or any other comparator as adjunct to insulin in patients with T1D, investigating major efficacy and safety endpoints. This review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

RESULTS

We included 5 trials with 2,445 randomized participants. Liraglutide provided modest reductions in HbA1c, with liraglutide 1.8 mg producing the greatest decrease (MD = -0.24%, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.16, I2=0%). Significant weight reduction, up to 4.87 kg with liraglutide 1.8 mg was also observed (95% CI -5.31 to -4.43, I2=0%). Decrease in total daily insulin dose, primarily driven by a decrease in bolus insulin requirements, was demonstrated. Liraglutide decreased non-significantly the odds for severe hypoglycemia (OR=0.80, 95% CI 0.57-1.14, I2=0%), while it increased significantly the odds for gastrointestinal adverse events (for nausea, OR=4.70, 95% CI 3.68-6.00, I2=37%, and for vomiting, OR=2.50, 95% CI 1.54-4.72, I2=27%). A significant increase in heart rate was also demonstrated. No association with diabetic ketoacidosis or malignancies was identified.

CONCLUSION

In patients with T1D, liraglutide might prove be an adjunct to insulin, improving glycemic control, inducing body weight loss and decreasing exogenous insulin requirements and severe hypoglycemia.

Fixed versus flexible combination of GLP-1 receptor agonists with basal insulin in type 2 diabetes: A retrospective multicentre comparative effectiveness study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The combination of basal insulin (BI) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) is a rational and effective therapy for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D). We compared the effectiveness of fixed and flexible BI/GLP-1RA combinations using routinely accumulated clinical data.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, multicentre, real-world study concerning T2D patients initiating a fixed or flexible BI/GLP-1RA combination (NCT03959865). The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c. Secondary endpoints were changes in body weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Confounding was addressed by propensity score matching (PSM) or multivariable adjustment (MVA).

RESULTS

A total of 609 patients were included in the study, 131 in the fixed group and 478 in the flexible group. The two groups differed in terms of diabetes duration, body weight and concomitant medications. After 5.7 months, observed HbA1c reductions were 0.6% and 0.8%, and body weight reductions were 2.8 kg and 1.2 kg in the flexible and fixed groups, respectively. Following PSM, HbA1c declined similarly in the two groups, whereas reduction in body weight was significantly in favour of the flexible combination. Findings were robust in sensitivity analyses, with the exception that, with MVA, a significantly higher reduction in HbA1c was detected in the fixed group. Final doses of BI were higher in the fixed group, whereas those of GLP-1RA were higher in the flexible group.

CONCLUSIONS

In routine specialist care, initiation of the fixed or flexible BI/GLP-1RA combination allowed similar improvement in glycaemic control, but greater weight loss was observed with the flexible combination. This difference reflected dosages of BI and GLP-1RAs.

Cardiorenal Protection: Potential of SGLT2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Recent large clinical trials on sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, with the aim of verifying cardiovascular safety, have revealed that these medications have a preventative advantage on adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including worsening of heart failure and deterioration of nephropathy, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). These observed benefits do not seem to correlate with the glucose-lowering effect, and the underlying mechanism is being intensively investigated. Given the results from recent studies, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) recommend that patients with T2D and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) with inadequate glucose control despite treatment with metformin should receive an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 receptor agonist. In this review we summarize the results of recent cardiovascular outcome trials and discuss the potential clinical advantage of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. We also present practical implications of these glucose-lowering agents for reducing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events and progressive renal comorbidity in patients with T2D and CVD.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes by Patient Profile in the Clinical Practice of Endocrinology in Spain: Delphi Study Results from the Think Twice Program

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this Delphi study is to unveil the management of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and different levels of complexity in the clinical practice in Spain.

METHODS

Based on the common management practices of T2D profiles reported by Spanish endocrinologists, a Delphi questionnaire of 55 statements was developed and responded to by a national panel (n = 101).

RESULTS

A consensus was reached for 30 of the 55 statements. Regarding overweight patients inadequately controlled with metformin, treatment with a sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor (SGLT2-I) is preferred over treatment with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4-I). If the patient is already being treated with a DPP4-I, an SGLT2-I is added on to the treatment regimen rather than replacing the DPP4-I. Conversely, if the treatment regimen includes a sulfonylurea, it is usually replaced by other antihyperglycemic agents. Current treatment trends in uncontrolled obese patients include the addition of an SGLT2-I or a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) to background therapy. When the glycated hemoglobin target is not reached, triple therapy with metformin + GLP1-RA + SGLT2-I is initiated. Although SGLT2-Is are the treatment of choice in patients with T2D and heart failure or uncontrolled hypertension, no consensus was reached regarding the preferential use of SGLT2-Is or GLP1-RAs in patients with established cardiovascular disease.

CONCLUSION

Consensus has been reached for a variety of statements regarding the management of several T2D profiles. Achieving a more homogeneous management of complex patients with T2D may require further evidence and a better understanding of the key drivers for treatment choice.

FUNDING

Logistic support was provided by ESTEVE Pharmaceuticals S.A Spain.