Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common long-term health conditions around the world.
It develops when the body cannot use insulin properly, causing sugar to build up in the blood instead of moving into the body’s cells for energy.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels if it is not well controlled.
Doctors usually recommend healthy eating, regular physical activity, and weight management to help control type 2 diabetes.
Many people also take metformin, which is often the first medicine prescribed because it lowers blood sugar and has a long record of safety. However, metformin does not continue to work well for everyone, and many patients eventually need additional medicines.
A new study from Thomas Jefferson University suggests that combining two diabetes medicines may provide better long-term blood sugar control than adding either medicine alone. The research was published in the journal Diabetes Care. The findings offer hope for people whose blood sugar remains too high despite taking metformin.
The study included 695 adults with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar was not adequately controlled with metformin.
The participants were divided into three treatment groups. One group added weekly injections of exenatide, another added daily dapagliflozin tablets, and the third group received both medicines while continuing to take metformin.
After two years of treatment, the people taking both dapagliflozin and exenatide achieved the best results. Their blood sugar remained lower and more stable than in the other two groups. Just as importantly, the treatment continued to work well over the full study period, which is important because some diabetes medicines become less effective over time.
The two medicines lower blood sugar in different ways. Dapagliflozin works by helping the kidneys remove extra sugar from the body through the urine. This reduces the amount of sugar circulating in the bloodstream without relying on extra insulin.
Exenatide works in several ways at once. It encourages the pancreas to release more insulin after meals when blood sugar rises, reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver, and slows the movement of food through the stomach. Because digestion is slower, many people feel full for longer, which may help them eat less and lose weight.
Since the medicines work through different pathways, they complement each other. In addition to improving blood sugar control, the combination also helped participants lose weight and lower their blood pressure. These extra benefits are important because excess weight and high blood pressure are common in people with type 2 diabetes and increase the risk of heart disease.
The researchers also found that the combination treatment was generally safe. No major safety concerns were identified during the study, providing reassurance that adding both medicines did not lead to unexpected serious side effects. Even so, treatment decisions should always be made with a healthcare professional because every person’s medical needs are different.
Lead researcher Dr. Serge Jabbour said this combination could become a valuable option for people whose diabetes is no longer well controlled with metformin alone.
Although more research will continue to evaluate long-term outcomes, the study suggests that using dapagliflozin and exenatide together may help people manage their diabetes more effectively while also supporting weight loss and healthier blood pressure.
For many patients, this could provide a better way to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications in the future.
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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