When combined, SGLT2 Inhibitor and GLP-1 RAs drugs show multiple benefits in treatment of type 2 diabetes. According to studies, the drug combination can target most of the issues that contribute to glucose intolerance, aiding in blood sugar control, weight management, blood pressure reduction, among others. Read more
Sotagliflozin (brand name Zynquista), will be reviewed by the FDA as a possible adjunct treatment, along with insulin, for type 1 diabetes. If approved, it will be the first oral antidiabetes medication used in combination with insulin in patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Read more
Many recent clinical trials of new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease have ending in failure, and now some scientists are reconsidering whether we’ve been looking at the wrong things in our attempts to understand and treat the disease. Some researchers are now looking at the relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and how insulin may be the […]
Researchers have conducted a study to examine whether it is possible to create a less invasive alternative to bariatric surgery that would be equally effective in reversing type 2 diabetes, and offer the same benefits as surgery. The treatment would be in the form of an oral agent that would temporarily coat the intestine to […]
Whatever your political views, it’s important to understand the implications of the new information issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) describing how the Trump administration plans to drop the prices for prescription drugs for all Americans. The first part of this plan will be implemented right away, while the second part […]
Four new drugs now in development could change the way diabetes is treated. Novo Nordisk’s oral GLP-1 Semaglutide could offer an easier-to-take option and help delay the need for direct insulin treatment. Opko’s Oxyntomodulin (OPK-88003) is a leader in a new class of dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist drugs. Oramed just started a Phase 2 […]
In the last two years, the FDA has approved four drugs in the SGLT-2 inhibitors class: canagliflozin (brand name Invokana, Jansssen), dapagliflozin (brand name Farxiga, AstraZeneca), empagliflozin (brand name Jardiance, Boehringer Ingelheim), and ertugliflozin (brand name Steglatro, Merck/Pfizer). What is important for doctors to know about these new drugs, and how they should be prescribed? […]
Changing from a once-a-day dose to a once-a-week dose of a GLP-1 medication can sometimes be confusing. It’s important to get the timing right when you stop the daily dose and start the weekly dose. And it doesn’t help that the pens for a daily medication like Victoza look very similar to the pens for […]
Diabetes activists, including both physicians and patients, joined together in Washington, DC this past weekend to protest the high cost of insulin in the U.S. The protest was held on April 8 and organized by the Right Care Alliance, an activist group that states their mission is to hold “health care institutions accountable to communities […]
Many patients with diabetes struggle with weight management, and many drugs used to treat diabetes can further contribute to weight gain. Researchers have found that the SGLT-2 inhibitors, a newer class of drugs, are very effective when combined with diet and exercise in helping patients lose weight. Researchers have found that the amount of weight […]
SGLT-2 inhibitors are the newest diabetes drug class on the market, and to date research on their long-term safety has been lacking. The American Heart Association has published the results of a major meta analysis which reviewed all the available trials and studies. The researchers found that use of SGLT-2 inhibitors led to a 20% […]
Novo Nordisk, the world’s largest insulin manufacturer, is looking to transform the diabetes market with a pill. Its oral semaglutide medicine is currently in late-stage trials, with a planned launch date in 2020. Semaglutide, one of the GLP-1 drugs, stimulates insulin production. It’s currently available as a once-weekly injection, and Novo hopes that the pill […]
People with diabetes are more than twice as likely to die from heart disease as those without diabetes. To help reduce the risk of heart disease and manage type 2 diabetes, it’s important to eat healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats, along with getting regular exercise. But even […]
A new drug, Pemafibrate, currently in a phase 3 clinical trial in Japan, may significantly improve lipid profiles and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia. The results follow those of several large-scale clinical trials which show that treatment with drugs of the fibrate class can decrease triglyceride levels and increase high-density […]
Every day, doctors and other prescribers write prescriptions for patients with diabetes. But how can they choose the best medication from all the many drugs, and combination drugs, available today? And how can they make sure that the patient will be able to afford the drug they want to prescribe, when there are more than […]
Obesity and diabetes are often linked, and prescription drugs can have varying effects on weight. Research has found that certain drug types such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors (for example, Invokana and Jardiance) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) (for example, Victoza and Trulicity) may help with weight loss. On the other hand, […]
Some diabetes educators find that the holiday and new year seasons are a time when patients want a fresh start — perhaps with a change of medication. A certified diabetes educator (CDE) talks about her experience working with patients around this time of year, and why it’s so important not to make changes to your […]
“Nonadherence” is what doctors call it when patients don’t take their prescription medications as prescribed — or at all. This is such a widespread problem that some experts consider it an “epidemic” in itself, in that the failure to take medication as prescribed can cause serious health problems, or make illnesses like diabetes worse. Some […]
You may trust your doctor to keep up to date with the latest treatments for diabetes, but a new poll shows that many doctors struggle to stay informed on all the new drugs and devices entering the market. In a recent survey, 149 endocrinologists about a new drug ertugliflozin. (At the time of the survey, […]
The FDA recently approved three new drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, all featuring the new SGLT-2 inhibitor, ertugliflozin. The first, Steglatro, is ertugliflozin available in 5-mg and 15-mg tablets, approved for adults with type 2 as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control. The second, Steglujan, is a tablet […]
