Dulaglutide along with long-acting Insulin yields better results in T2 Diabetics

Dulaglutide in combination with long-acting insulin yielded better blood glucose control than intensive insulin therapy in type 2 diabetics and the results persisted for 24 weeks. The study was published in the journal 'Diabetology International.'  

Diabetes is a global pandemic and is a health care burden worldwide. Diabetes is managed by both monotherapy and combination therapy. Dulaglutide is a Glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist used for the management of T2 diabetes mellitus. Researchers from Japan conducted a study to evaluate the long-term effects of combination therapy comprising dulaglutide and long-acting insulin, on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. 

A retrospective observational study was conducted on 20 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent blood glucose management with intensive insulin therapy for a certain period. Later these patients were switched from intensive insulin therapy to combination therapy comprising dulaglutide and long-acting insulin. After the start of the combination therapy, Hemoglobin A1c was evaluated before and at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. All the patients were under continuous glucose monitoring before the start, at week 1, and week 24. 

Results: 

• Hemoglobin A1c levels were significantly reduced after 4, 12, and 24 weeks of combination therapy.
• Glycemic variability was significantly decreased after 1 and 24 weeks of combination therapy. 
• The percentage of readings and time > 250 mg/dL at 24 weeks was significantly improved.

 Thus, the researchers concluded that dulaglutide combination with long-acting insulin resulted in better blood glycemic control than intensive insulin therapy, which persisted for 24 weeks. Blood glucose fluctuations and the number of self-injections needed were also reduced by the combination therapy. 

For the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13340-022-00592-z 

Ito, K., Satoh, S., Kondo, Y. et al. Effect of dulaglutide and long-acting insulin combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective observational study. Diabetol Int (2022).