Scientists find a better drug for type 2 diabetes and weight loss

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A new meta-analysis presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes reveals that Tirzepatide outperforms Semaglutide in controlling blood sugar and aiding in weight loss in patients.

The study, conducted by Dr. Thomas Karagiannis and his team from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, analyzed 22 studies, focusing on the efficacy and safety of both drugs in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

Both Tirzepatide and Semaglutide are approved medications for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, with the former also being under consideration for obesity and weight loss management approval.

The meta-analysis involved a comparison of the drugs based on data from 22 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), including 18,472 patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, scrutinizing the effects on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, and the risk of adverse events.

Key Findings

Tirzepatide was found to be superior in reducing HbA1c, with the 15 mg dose showing a mean difference of -2.00% against placebo, followed by the 10 mg dose with -1.86% and Semaglutide 2.0 mg with -1.62%.

The weight loss efficacy was also more prominent in Tirzepatide, with the three doses showing more substantial reductions in body weight compared to their Semaglutide counterparts.

The most significant weight loss difference was observed with Tirzepatide 15 mg, demonstrating a mean difference of -5.72 Kg against Semaglutide 2.0 mg.

Safety and Adverse Effects

Both drugs elevated the risk for gastrointestinal adverse events compared to placebo, with Tirzepatide 15 mg presenting the highest increased risk for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

However, comparisons between the drugs mostly showed non-statistically significant results in adverse events, except for a few instances where Tirzepatide 15 mg exhibited increased risks of vomiting and nausea compared to lower doses of Semaglutide.

Tirzepatide displayed superior efficacy in both blood sugar control and weight loss in individuals with Type 2 diabetes compared to Semaglutide.

This superiority was more pronounced with higher doses of Tirzepatide. However, high-dose Tirzepatide also presented with increased risks for gastrointestinal adverse effects.

These findings are crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and medical interventions for Type 2 diabetes, offering insights into the comparative benefits and risks associated with these medications.

The detailed numerical values and differences in body weight changes between the two drugs, not included in the journal abstract, are scheduled to be presented in an oral presentation at the congress.

If you care about diabetes, please read studies about new way to detect diabetes-related blindness early, and eggs for breakfast may benefit people with diabetes.

For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about the cause of largest increase in type 2 diabetes risk, and results showing this eating habit may reduce diabetes-related high blood pressure.

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