In a new study, researchers found medicine semaglutide may help improve glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes.
They tested oral semaglutide as a mono-therapy and found it had superior effectiveness in improving health in people with diabetes.
The study was done by a team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
In the study, the team examined 703 middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral semaglutide, the first oral glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist.
The patients took once-daily oral semaglutide 3 mg, 7 mg, 14 mg, or placebo, and they also managed their diet and exercise.
The researchers found over 26 weeks, oral semaglutide reduced HbA1c as well as body weight in people who took the medicine.
The most common side effects included mild-to-moderate gut problems.
Discontinuation occurred in 2.3 to 7.4% taking oral semaglutide and 2.2% in people taking a placebo.
The team says oral semaglutide mono-therapy showed superior improvements in HbA1c (all doses) and body weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes.
Future work needs to further confirm its effect when used in combination with other glucose-lowering drugs and in other people with high heart disease risk or kidney problems.
The lead author of the study is Vanita R. Aroda, M.D. from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The study is published in Diabetes Care.
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