Type 2 diabetes is a common condition where the body either doesn’t use insulin effectively or doesn’t produce enough of it, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Managing this condition often starts with lifestyle changes and medications like metformin, which helps lower blood sugar. However, for many people, metformin alone may not work well over time, and additional treatments are needed.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have uncovered a promising solution: combining two diabetes medications, dapagliflozin and exenatide. Their study found that this combination not only helps control blood sugar effectively but also maintains its benefits for a longer period.
The study included 695 adults with Type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar was not well-controlled by metformin alone. Participants were divided into three groups. One group received weekly injections of exenatide along with metformin.
Another group took daily dapagliflozin pills with metformin. The third group used both medications together. After two years, the group using the combination therapy showed better and more consistent blood sugar control compared to those using just one of the drugs.
Each medication in the combination works in a different way. Dapagliflozin helps the kidneys remove excess sugar from the body through urine.
Exenatide, on the other hand, helps the pancreas release more insulin after meals, reduces the amount of sugar the liver produces, slows the emptying of food from the stomach, and helps people feel full for longer.
Together, these two drugs not only lower blood sugar but also aid in weight loss and help reduce blood pressure, which are added benefits for many patients with Type 2 diabetes.
The study showed that this dual approach is safe, with no unexpected health risks during the research period. This makes it a strong option for people who struggle to control their diabetes with standard treatments like metformin alone.
Dr. Serge Jabbour, who led the study, highlighted how important these findings are for the future of diabetes care.
Published in the journal Diabetes Care, the research supports the use of dapagliflozin and exenatide as a reliable and long-lasting treatment option for more complex cases of Type 2 diabetes.
For patients, this new combination therapy could mean better blood sugar management, sustained weight loss, and improved blood pressure control over the long term.
It offers a promising alternative for those who need more than metformin to keep their diabetes under control. As researchers continue to explore innovative treatments, options like this provide hope for better and more effective diabetes management.
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