When comparing four drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, it was found that two of the drugs with a much better efficiency in relation to the Lower blood sugar level is connected.
In a new study involving experts from Harvard Medical School The effectiveness of four drugs commonly used to lower blood sugar have been evaluated Type 2 diabetes examined. The results are in the “New England Journal of Medicine“published.
Participants treated with metformin
The study took part in total 5,047 people party, who due to type 2 diabetes with the drug metformin treated and whose glycosylated hemoglobin was 6.8 to 8.5 percent. Participants were followed medically for an average of five years.
All participants were randomly assigned to receive one of four blood sugar lowering drugs: one group received insulin glargine U-100, the second group received the sulfonylurea glimepiride, the third group received liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, while the fourth group received sitagliptin.
Which drug effectively lowers blood sugar levels?
The study, which began in 2013, was designed to Compare the effectiveness of these four important drugswhich were approved at the time for the treatment of diabetes in combination with metformin.
Experts have found that there are indeed big differences in the effectiveness of drugs. It turned out that participants who took metformin more liraglutide Where insulin glargine took the longest to reach and maintain their target blood levels compared to sitagliptin or glimepiride.
Compared to taking the drug sitagliptinwhich by maintaining the target values on was the least effectivetaking liraglutide or insulin glargine kept blood sugar in the target range for about six more months, the team said.
What side effects were common?
Taking liraglutide was associated with gastrointestinal side effects connected and participants have built more weightcompared to other participants, the researchers report.
so called severe hypoglycemia occurred only rarely, but much more frequently when participants glimepiride took.
Glaargine and liraglutide were significantly more effective
Overall, in combination with metformin, all four drugs studied reduced levels of glycosylated hemoglobin. However, there was Significantly more effective glargine and liraglutide in terms of reaching and maintaining target levels of glycated hemoglobin, experts said in a Press release the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
The optimal early approach for the treatment of diabetes is metformin in combination with a Food and physical activityThe research team concludes by pointing out that the experts agree on this point. (as)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of the specialized medical literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been verified by health professionals.
Sources:
David M Nathan, John M Lachin, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Henry B Burch, John B Buse: Blood Glucose Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes – Blood Glucose Outcomes; in: The New England Journal of Medicine (published 09/22/2022), The New England Journal of Medicine
University of Minnesota School of Medicine: Research Dissertation: Two popular diabetes drugs outperformed others in large clinical trial (published 07.10.2022), University of Minnesota School of Medicine
Important Note: This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It cannot substitute a visit to the doctor.