Type 2 diabetes is a common health issue where the body struggles with insulin usage or production, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Metformin is often the first medication prescribed to manage this condition, but some patients find that over time, its effectiveness wanes and they need additional treatments.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have discovered that a combination of two diabetes medications, dapagliflozin and exenatide, not only effectively manages blood sugar levels but also maintains its efficacy over a prolonged period.
This insight comes from a comprehensive study involving 695 adults with Type 2 diabetes who were not adequately controlled with metformin alone.
The participants were split into three groups: one received weekly injections of exenatide alongside metformin, another took daily dapagliflozin pills with metformin, and the third group used both medications together.
The findings revealed that the patients on the combination therapy experienced better blood sugar control than those on a single drug, and this benefit persisted throughout the two-year duration of the study.
Dapagliflozin works by helping the kidneys remove excess glucose from the body through urine, while exenatide increases insulin secretion in response to eating, reduces glucose production from the liver, slows down food leaving the stomach, and helps people feel fuller longer.
By combining these two drugs, the treatment not only boosts and sustains blood glucose control but also aids in weight loss and improves blood pressure.
This dual approach has proven to be a valuable strategy for long-term management of Type 2 diabetes, especially for patients who find metformin alone insufficient.
The research also demonstrated that this drug combination is safe, with no unexpected health concerns arising during the study.
Published in the journal Diabetes Care, the study was led by Dr. Serge Jabbour, who noted the importance of these findings for future diabetes treatments.
This drug combination offers a promising option for those struggling to manage their diabetes with standard treatments, providing them with a way to maintain stable blood sugar levels, reduce weight, and lower blood pressure over an extended period.
The sustained effectiveness and safety of the dapagliflozin and exenatide combination make it a compelling choice for managing Type 2 diabetes in more complex cases where metformin alone does not suffice.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and to people with diabetes, some fruits are better than others.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies that low calorie diets may help reverse diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
