Tips For Your Family's Health

Phase I and II clinical trials of the diabetes drug liraglutide suggest that it can improve glycemic control in a glucose-dependent manner, with low risk of hypoglycemia, according to a review of early clinical studies of the drug.  The drug may also promote weight loss and the improvement of multiple cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting that liraglutide could be a clinically valuable approach to managing type 2 diabetes.  Liraglutide was first designed to enhance the physiological effects of native glucagon-like peptide-1, which may be impaired in type 2 diabetes.  In these early clinical trials, 0.05-1.9 mg daily of liraglutide improved multiple aspects of glycemic control and beta-cell function.  Early research has also found typical reductions in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose of up to 1.5 percent and 3.3-3.9 mmol/l, respectively, at doses of 1.25-1.9 mg daily.  Between 45 percent and 50 percent of patients using liraglutide achieved HbA1c of less than 7 percent.  Liraglutide showed signs of restoring beta-cell response to fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia and reinstating near-normal insulin secretion under hyperglycemic conditions.  Liraglutide also delays gastric emptying and promotes satiety, the author notes.

Similar Posts:

• Linagliptin as add-on hypoglycemic agent to metformin + sulfonylurea is effective and well-tolerated
• Mobile phone intervention improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients
• Nateglinide superior to glyburide in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia
• Risk-benefit assessment of antidiabetic drugs shows metformin as most efficacious
• ADRA2A gene polymorphisms are associated with type 2 diabetes risk and metabolic traits