Researchers from The GRADE Study Research Group have conducted an important study to see how well different medications control type 2 diabetes when combined with metformin, which is the usual first treatment for this condition.
Dr. Henry Burch led this research, and it was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study compared four medications that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
These medications were tested to see how well they worked with metformin in controlling blood sugar levels.
The study involved 5,047 participants from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. All these participants were already taking metformin to manage their diabetes.
They were randomly divided into four groups, with each group receiving one of the following medications in addition to metformin: sitagliptin, liraglutide, glimepiride, or insulin glargine U-100.
Over an average of four years, the study found that participants taking either liraglutide or insulin glargine with metformin maintained their target blood sugar levels for the longest time.
These two medications helped keep blood sugar levels within the target range for about six months longer than sitagliptin, which was the least effective among the four.
A key part of this study was its diverse participant group, which included people of different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities.
Interestingly, the effectiveness of the treatments did not vary much based on these factors, suggesting that the findings can apply to a wide range of patients.
However, the study also revealed a major challenge: nearly 75% of the participants could not maintain their target blood sugar levels over the four-year period.
This highlights the ongoing difficulty in managing type 2 diabetes effectively in the long term and the need for better treatment strategies.
The researchers also looked at how these treatments affected the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases related to diabetes.
They found that participants taking liraglutide had the lowest risk of cardiovascular problems, indicating an additional benefit of this medication beyond controlling blood sugar.
This extensive study provides valuable insights into which drug combinations are most effective in controlling blood sugar levels and how they can impact overall health, especially heart health.
It underscores the importance of finding the right medication combinations to improve the quality of life for people with type 2 diabetes.
Continued research is necessary to build on these findings and develop even better ways to manage diabetes. This study is a significant step in the ongoing effort to improve diabetes care and outcomes.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
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