Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have found that a combination of two diabetes drugs, dapagliflozin and exenatide, continues to effectively manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, even after two years of continuous use.
This discovery offers hope for patients who struggle to keep their blood glucose levels under control over the long term.
The study, led by Serge Jabbour and published in the journal Diabetes Care, focused on people with Type 2 diabetes, a condition where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to it, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Many patients initially manage their condition with metformin, a common first-line treatment. However, over time, metformin alone may no longer be enough, and additional medications are needed to maintain blood sugar control.
A few years ago, researchers discovered that combining two different types of diabetes drugs could slow the progression of the disease more effectively than using just one drug.
This study builds on that finding by showing that the benefits of combining dapagliflozin and exenatide not only persist but also remain stable over an extended period.
The study involved 695 adults whose diabetes was not adequately controlled with metformin alone. These participants were divided into three groups. One group received weekly injections of exenatide in addition to their regular metformin treatment.
Another group took daily dapagliflozin pills along with metformin. The third group received both exenatide and dapagliflozin together, along with metformin.
This study was an extension of the DURATION-8 trial, allowing participants to continue their treatment for a longer period. The results were encouraging.
The group that received both dapagliflozin and exenatide had better control of their blood sugar levels compared to those who received only one of the drugs. Importantly, this improved control remained consistent throughout the two-year study period.
The effectiveness of the combination therapy can be attributed to the different ways these drugs work. Dapagliflozin is part of a class of drugs known as SGLT2 inhibitors, which help lower blood sugar by allowing excess glucose to be excreted through urine.
On the other hand, exenatide belongs to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which work by enhancing insulin secretion when blood sugar is high, reducing glucose production by the liver, slowing down how quickly food leaves the stomach, and increasing feelings of fullness.
Together, these drugs help patients achieve and maintain better blood sugar control.
In addition to improving blood sugar levels, the combination of dapagliflozin and exenatide also led to weight loss and lower blood pressure in the study participants.
These additional benefits are significant because managing weight and blood pressure is crucial for overall health, especially in people with Type 2 diabetes.
The study also found no unexpected safety issues related to the drug combination, making it a promising option for long-term diabetes management.
Other studies have suggested that using these drugs together might also improve other metabolic markers, such as cholesterol levels, which are often problematic in people with diabetes.
This research is particularly important because many diabetes treatments tend to lose their effectiveness over time, requiring patients to switch therapies or add new medications.
The fact that this combination therapy remained effective for over two years is a positive sign that it could offer patients a more stable, long-term solution for managing their diabetes.
In conclusion, the combination of dapagliflozin and exenatide offers a powerful tool for people with Type 2 diabetes who need more than just metformin to control their blood sugar.
The study’s results show that this drug combo not only works well but also maintains its effectiveness over time, providing patients with better control over their condition and potentially improving their quality of life.
This finding is a significant step forward in the fight against diabetes.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes, and these vegetables could protect against kidney damage in diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about bone drug that could lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and results showing eating more eggs linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
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