Doctors from around the world joined forces to study a medication called semaglutide for type 2 diabetes. The research took place in 177 locations across 14 countries, led by Dr. Vanita R. Aroda from a hospital in Boston.
People with type 2 diabetes often have higher-than-normal blood sugar levels, which can be tracked with a test called HbA1c. This test gives an idea of average blood sugar levels over the past few months.
For this study, participants were chosen based on their HbA1c levels, which ranged from 8.0% to 10.5%, indicating they had room to improve their blood sugar control.
Additionally, participants had a certain body weight and were already taking one to three medications to help lower their blood sugar.
The study focused on semaglutide, a drug taken once daily, and aimed to find the most effective dose.
Participants were divided into three groups, each receiving either 14 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg of the drug daily for a total of 68 weeks, or a little over a year. The main goal was to see how well the different doses could lower HbA1c over the year.
After a year, the results showed that all three doses helped reduce HbA1c levels, but the higher doses—25 mg and 50 mg—were more effective than the 14 mg dose. In general, the larger the dose, the greater the reduction in blood sugar levels.
However, those who took the higher doses were more likely to experience mild side effects, mainly related to digestion, such as stomach discomfort. These side effects were generally mild and manageable.
In simple terms, the study found that taking 25 mg or 50 mg of semaglutide each day was more effective at lowering blood sugar than the lower 14 mg dose. For some, though, the higher doses came with mild stomach-related side effects.
One positive additional finding was that the 25 mg and 50 mg doses not only improved blood sugar control but also helped participants lose some weight—a beneficial effect for people with type 2 diabetes, as maintaining a healthy weight is often part of managing the condition.
This study offers helpful information for people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that adjusting the dose of semaglutide could be a valuable approach for those not seeing enough improvement with their current treatment.
But as always, anyone considering changes to their medication should consult with their healthcare provider to discuss what’s best for them, especially considering possible side effects.
For those interested in diabetes, additional studies have shown progress with new treatments for diabetes and related health issues. Some findings even suggest that Vitamin E might help prevent other conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
This research on semaglutide was published in The Lancet, adding to a growing body of knowledge on how to better manage type 2 diabetes.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about high vitamin D level linked to lower dementia risk in diabetes, and this eating habit could help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about unhealthy plant-based diets linked to metabolic syndrome, and results showing Paleo diet plus exercise could boost heart health in people with diabetes.
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