Type 2 diabetes is a common condition where the body either doesn’t use insulin properly or doesn’t make enough of it. This leads to high levels of sugar in the blood, which, if not managed well, can cause serious health problems over time.
Doctors usually prescribe a medication called metformin as the first step in treating Type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar levels, but for many people, metformin alone becomes less effective as time goes on. When that happens, patients need extra treatments to keep their blood sugar under control.
A new study from Thomas Jefferson University has found that combining two other diabetes medications—dapagliflozin and exenatide—can be a better long-term option for people who need more than just metformin.
This research involved 695 adults who had Type 2 diabetes and weren’t getting good results from metformin by itself. The participants were placed into three different groups. One group took a weekly injection of exenatide with their metformin. Another group took daily dapagliflozin pills with metformin. The third group took both dapagliflozin and exenatide along with metformin.
After studying these patients over two years, researchers discovered that those taking the combination of both dapagliflozin and exenatide had better blood sugar control compared to those taking only one of the drugs. Even more importantly, this benefit lasted throughout the two years, showing that the combination remained effective over time.
Dapagliflozin helps lower blood sugar by making the kidneys remove more glucose from the blood through urine. Exenatide works in a different way—it helps the pancreas release insulin when you eat, reduces sugar production in the liver, slows down how quickly food leaves the stomach, and helps people feel full so they may eat less.
By using both medications together, patients get the benefit of two different ways of lowering blood sugar. This double action not only improves blood sugar levels but also helps people lose weight and lower their blood pressure—two other important factors for people with diabetes.
The researchers also found that this treatment combination was safe. None of the participants experienced any surprising or dangerous side effects. The study, which was published in the journal Diabetes Care, was led by Dr. Serge Jabbour, who said these results are important for shaping future treatments for diabetes.
This discovery offers new hope for people whose blood sugar levels remain too high even after taking metformin. Adding both dapagliflozin and exenatide may help them keep their blood sugar steady, lose weight, and improve their overall health for a longer time.
In short, if metformin alone isn’t doing enough, this new treatment option could be a powerful next step. It’s safe, works well over time, and tackles blood sugar from different angles, making it a strong choice for people with more complex diabetes needs.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about diabetes and vitamin B12, and the right diet for people with type 2 diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat smart with diabetes, and turmeric and vitamin D: a duo for blood pressure control in diabetic patients.
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