Researchers are working on a pill designed to release nutrients rapidly into the small intestine and stimulate the release of GLP-1 and several other appetite-suppressing hormones, mimicking what happens after gastric bypass surgery. A clinical trial studied the effects of the ingestion of a single dose of a nutrient pill in patients with obesity and […]
Rosiglitazone, a drug originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 under the name Avandia. The drug has already been suspended in Europe and restricted in use in the US due to concerns about how it may affect heart health, but the strength […]
The FDA recently approved Trijardy XR, a tablet that combines three previously approved medications to treat type 2 diabetes: empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor, linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, and metformin hydrochloride, a biguanide. The advantage of combining these agents is that they each have a different mechanism of action, so they lower blood […]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted tests of the popular type 2 diabetes drug metformin due to suspected contamination, and found the drug did not show any evidence of contamination with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at levels that would cause concern. Read more
US pharmacy chain CVS has announced a new program, RxZERO, which will provide diabetes medications with no co-pay. According to research by CVS, people with diabetes typically spend around $467 out-of-pocket for brand name prescriptions every year, with some (12%) spend up to $1,000 on diabetes medications. Read more
The FDA has approved the first oral medication that combines three type 2 diabetes treatments into one pill: the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin, the DPP-IV inhibitor linagliptin and metformin hydrochloride extended release. This triple combination therapy, called Trijardy XR, is approved to lower blood glucose for adults with type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise. […]
For its 2020 recommendations, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is now advising doctors to consider prescribing sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors or glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to patients at high risk for heart failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD), not only in patients who already have the disease. Read more
Glucocorticoids (GC) may expose patients to the risk of diabetes, particularly with long term use, a recent study suggests. Glucocorticoids are extensively used in almost every subspecialty of medicine to treat conditions like asthma, allergies, and even rheumatoid conditions. However, they have metabolic side effects like hypertension and have a direct impact on diabetes. Read […]
Adults who have both diabetes and depressive disorder and who were treated with antidepressant drugs experienced fewer episodes of hyperglycemic crisis than those who were not taking antidepressant medications, new research has found. Read more
A Phase 2b study in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was completed for what looks likely to be the first oral form of insulin (ORMD-0801). The developing company, Oramed Pharmaceuticals’, CEO Nadav Kidron and Dr. Joel Neutel, Principal Investigator of the study discuss the results. Read more
A recent study investigated metformin vs. sulfonylureas in patients with reduced kidney function and diabetes regarding major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). In the past, safety concerns over metformin use in kidney disease have limited its use. Read more
The authors of a new study which examined prescribing patterns in more than 2 million Americans from 2009 to 2015 found that weight-loss medications are rarely prescribed to eligible patients, despite the obesity epidemic. Read more
Patients taking an SGLT2 inhibitor should be aware of the signs of Fournier gangrene, a rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the skin that involves the tissues, surrounding muscles, nerves, and blood vessels of the external genitalia, perianal region, and perineum (the area between the anus and scrotum for men; between the anus and […]
There have been conflicting findings on the diabetes drug metformin’s possible relationship to cancer. The majority of studies conducted on metformin or other glucose-lowering medications and their effect on cancer risk have found inconclusive results, but some research suggests metformin may have a beneficial role in certain types of cancer. Read more
A drug used to treat breast cancer, neratinib, has the potential to stop the immune system from destroying beta cells in type 1 diabetes, according to German researchers. The researchers found that Neratinib was able to protect the beta cells, which produce insulin in the pancreas, enabling the beta cells to continue to produce insulin. […]
In recent years, there have been warnings for the use of SGLT-2 Inhibitors that suggest an increased risk of fracture, particularly when placed on one SGLT2 inhibitor, canagliflozin (Invokana). In 2015, the US FDA added a warning on canagliflozin, indicating that patients on canagliflozin must use caution because of a fracture risk associated with the […]
The TTT-1 trial will begin in Scotland early in 2020 to assess a new combination therapy using insulin, dapagliflozin, and semaglutide. It is being led by Dr John Petrie from the University of Glasgow, a leading expert in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The trial hopes the treatment will become a new option for […]
Qternmet XR is a single, once daily oral tablet made of dapagliflozin, saxagliptin, and metformin. Results show that the combination of dapagliflozin and saxagliptin have improved glycemic outcomes when added to metformin in patients with diabetes as compared to either drug alone added to metformin. Adverse effects are similar to those of the individual medications. […]
Oral semaglutide, brand name Rybelsus, is the first GLP-1 agonist that can be taken by mouth rather than requiring an injection. Studies have shown a significant reduction in A1c, a reduction in cardiovascular disease, and a reduction in weight, without the risk of hypoglycemia, for this drug. Patients must carefully follow instructions for taking the […]
The FDA has approved a new treatment of Invokana for diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects one in three patients with type 2 diabetes. CKD increases the risk for serious cardiovascular events and end-stage renal disease in patiens with type 2 diabetes. The approval of Invokana meets a 20 year need for therapy to […]
