Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, an injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, achieved its primary goal in a Phase 3b study of type 2 diabetes patients already on treatment with an SGLT-2 inhibitor, proving more effective than placebo in lowering blood sugar. Ozempic also achieved the study’s secondary goal, helping patients lose more weight over 30 weeks than […]
Eli Lilly and Co announced that they will sell a half-price version of the popular insulin injection Humalog. The new product will be called Insulin Lispro; Humalog will remain available for those who wish to use it through existing insurance plans. The move comes as many major drugmakers, including Lilly, have received criticism from patients […]
A large study found that patients taking statins had a significantly lower rate of diabetic retinopathy than patients in the non-statin group. Statin therapy was also associated with reduced risks for major adverse cardiovascular events and new-onset diabetic foot ulcers. Read more
Members of an FDA panel assessing whether to approve Sanofi’s new drug, Zynquista, could not agree. On January 17, 2019, the panel was evenly split, 8-8, on whether the drug’s benefits outweighed its risks. The drug will receive its verdict from the FDA by March 22. If it’s approved, Zynquista, a dual inhibitor targeting both […]
It’s very common to experience uncomfortable gastrointestinal side effects from metformin, even if you’ve been taking the drug for years and didn’t have problems before. A diabetes educator shares some tips on what steps to take if metformin is causing gastric distress. Read more
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a new combination of two classes of drugs that induces the highest rate of proliferation ever observed in adult human beta cells—the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The result is an important step toward a diabetes treatment that can restore the […]
Two types of drugs widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes in order to lower blood sugar levels may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, according to new research. The first, sulfonylureas, are oral medications that cause the body to release more insulin; they have been in use since the 1950s. The […]
A new study that looked at treatment with metformin and pioglitazone in people with prediabetes found that the drugs significantly delayed progression to diabetes in some patients. However, additional long-term studies will need to be done before the FDA can approve these medications for at-risk patients. Read more
Metformin, also called Glucophage, is prescribed to more than 120 million people with diabetes worldwide. The drug works by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and by increasing a patient’s sensitivity to insulin. However, a recent study found that in about 10% of patients taking metformin, it is also causing varying degrees […]
Subetta is a new drug currently under review for approval by the FDA and undergoing phase 3 clinical trials. By activating insulin receptors, Subetta has an antihyperglycemic effect, stimulating uptake of glucose by muscle cells. The trials suggest Subetta has a small but statistically significant additional blood glucose-lowering effect in people whose type 1 diabetes […]
The GLP-1 agonist class of diabetes drugs is known to be effective in helping patients reduce weight and HbA1c. Oral semaglutide, currently in phase 3 trials, would be the first non-injectable drug in this class. Compared with placebo, the trial found people with type 2 diabetes had significant reductions in HbA1c and weight loss while […]
A new drug called sotagliflozin is a dual inhibitor of SGLT-1 and SGLT-2, which means it helps limits the body’s absorption of excess glucose through both the intestines and the kidneys. A new study looked at the safety and efficacy of the drug as an add-on to insulin therapy in people with type 1 diabetes, […]
Patients with diabetes who were treated with metformin had almost a 50% lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study. The protective effect increased with longer duration of metformin use and with the cumulative dose of metformin, according to the researchers. Read more
A recent study looked at whether statin use helps prevent heart issues in older people, with and without diabetes. In participants with diabetes, statins did significantly reduce the incidence of atherosclerotic CVD by 24% and all-cause mortality by 16% in those age 75–84 years. However, no benefit was seen in people with type 2 diabetes […]
Metformin has been used for decades as a first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood glucose levels by inhibiting glucose production in the liver, and also improves glucose uptake and use by muscle tissue. Yet until now, exactly how the drug works to increase glucose uptake in muscle tissue has been unknown. […]
New research supports earlier findings that the weight loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) may play a role in helping delay or manage the progression of type 2 diabetes. In the study, Belviq performed better than a placebo in helping people with prediabetes and diabetes lower their A1C, effectively helping those with prediabetes avoid full-blown diabetes. Read […]
A new study has found that the GLP-1 diabetes drug semaglutide, combined with diet and exercise, can help obese patients lose significant amounts of weight. The GLP-1 class of drugs helps weight loss by suppressing appetite and delaying the movement of food into the small intestine. Semaglutide proved more effective than the older drug liraglutide […]
Taking aspirin is often recommended for its heart benefits, but do the benefits outweigh the risk for all people with diabetes? A recent study found that for people who do not already have heart disease, the risk of serious bleeding associated with aspirin use may outweigh the cardiovascular benefits. Read more
For patients with type 2 diabetes who need large doses of insulin, adding an SGLT2 inhibitor to insulin therapy can mean much less insulin is needed according to new research. Patients with daily insulin doses between 101 and 200 units experienced an insulin dose reduction of 17 units/day with the addition of canagliflozin (brand name […]
SGLT-2 inhibitor drugs (brand names include Invokana and Jardience) have many benefits, but have been associated with diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious kidney problem, in people with type 2. If you are taking an SGLT-2 inhibitor, it’s important to know the signs of DKA and how to protect yourself. Read more
