For people with type 2 diabetes who are already using the drug dulaglutide but still don’t have good blood sugar control, switching to another medication called tirzepatide may offer better results.
A new study shows that tirzepatide can lower blood sugar and help with weight loss more than just increasing the dose of dulaglutide.
The research was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and was presented at the American College of Physicians’ annual Internal Medicine Meeting in New Orleans.
In this study, 828 adults with type 2 diabetes took part. All of them had blood sugar levels (measured by HbA1c) between 7.0% and 9.5%, even after being on a stable dose of dulaglutide (either 0.75 mg or 1.5 mg) for at least six months.
Their weight had also been stable, and they had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, which means they were at least overweight.
The participants were divided into two groups. One group switched from dulaglutide to tirzepatide, while the other stayed on dulaglutide and had their dose increased to a maximum of 4.5 mg or the highest dose they could tolerate. Researchers wanted to compare how well the two approaches worked after 40 weeks.
At the end of the study, those who switched to tirzepatide had a bigger drop in their blood sugar levels. Their average HbA1c went down by 1.44 percentage points. In comparison, those who stayed on dulaglutide and increased their dose saw a smaller drop of 0.67 percentage points.
Tirzepatide users also lost more weight. On average, they lost 10.5 kilograms (about 23 pounds), while the dulaglutide group lost 3.6 kilograms (about 8 pounds).
In terms of side effects, both groups had a similar rate of serious problems—about 7 percent. The most common side effects for both treatments were nausea and diarrhea, which are typical with this type of medication.
This was a phase 4 clinical trial, meaning it was done after both drugs were already approved and in use. The goal was to better understand how they compare in real-world settings. The study was led by Dr. Liana K. Billings from the University of Chicago and took place at multiple medical centers.
It’s worth noting that the study was funded by Eli Lilly, the company that makes tirzepatide. While this doesn’t change the results, it’s important for transparency.
Tirzepatide and dulaglutide are both part of a group of medicines that are injected once a week to help manage type 2 diabetes. They work by mimicking hormones in the body that help control blood sugar and appetite. Tirzepatide is newer and acts on two different hormone receptors, which might explain why it can have a stronger effect.
These findings suggest that switching to tirzepatide might be a better option than increasing dulaglutide for patients who aren’t meeting their blood sugar goals. The extra weight loss could also offer health benefits, especially since many people with type 2 diabetes also struggle with obesity.
Doctors and patients should talk about the pros and cons of each treatment to decide what’s best based on individual health needs and potential side effects.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that flaxseed oil is more beneficial than fish oil to people with diabetes, and green tea could help reduce death risk in diabetes.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that blueberries strongly benefit people with metabolic syndrome, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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