Clinically Relevant Benefits Seen for GLP-1RA, SGLTi Treatment of T1DM

THURSDAY, March 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are beneficial for treating type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), with similar reductions in glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Khary Edwards, M.D., from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues conducted a retrospective chart review involving adult patients with T1DM with GLP-1RA and/or SGLTi use for longer than 90 days to examine the clinical and safety outcomes over the duration of use. A total of 104 patients with T1DM who used a GLP-1RA or SGLTi for more than 90 days were included (76 and 39 patients, respectively).

The researchers found that GLP-1RA users had significant reductions in weight, HbA1c, and total daily dose of insulin after one year of therapy. Significant reductions in HbA1c and basal insulin were seen for SGLTi users. Compared with SGLTi users, GLP-1RA users had greater reductions in weight but comparable reductions in HbA1c. More SGLTi users experienced diabetic ketoacidosis over a mean total duration of use of 29.5 months/patient for both groups. Discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events occurred in 26.9 and 27.7 percent of GLP-1RA and SGLTi users, respectively.

"GLP-1RAs may be a useful addition to insulin as an adjuvant therapy for management of T1DM in clinical practice as it can bring about significant reductions in weight, HbA1c, and daily insulin requirement," the authors write.

One author disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, several of which manufacture the medications involved in this study.

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