In a nutshell
This study looked at the treatment of poorly-controlled type 2 diabetics. They found that a combination of exenatide and dapagliflozin was more effective at lowering blood glucose (sugar) than either treatment alone.
Some background
There are many types of treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Metformin (Glucophage) is commonly the standard first-line treatment. Two medications that can also be used are exenatide (Byetta) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga). A previous study followed patients for one year and showed that taking exenatide and dapagliflozin together was more effective than taking either on its own. However, the long-term safety and effectiveness of this combination are still unknown.
Methods & findings
695 patients with poorly-controlled (HbA1c higher than 8%) T2D were involved in this trial. The HbA1c is a measurement of blood sugar control over the past three months which is used to monitor diabetes. All patients had previously received metformin. Patients were divided into 3 equal groups. Group 1 was given exenatide and dapagliflozin, group 2 was given exenatide and a placebo, and group 3 was given dapagliflozin and a placebo. Patients were followed for 2 years.
431 patients completed the 2-year follow-up. Group 1 had a greater reduction in HbA1c than the other groups. This group had a reduction in HbA1C of 1.7%, compared to 1.29% in group 2 and 1.06% in group 3. Patients in group 1 also had significant reductions in weight and blood pressure.
Similar side effects were reported across all 3 groups.
The bottom line
This study showed that a combination of exenatide and dapagliflozin is a safe and effective option for poorly-controlled T2D.
The fine print
A large number of patients did not complete the 2-year follow up in this study. This may affect the reliability of the results. This trial was funded by AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of exenatide and dapagliflozin.
Published By :
Diabetes Care
Date :
Aug 17, 2020
