Pairing GLP-1 and SGLT2 Diabetes Drugs May Reduce Risk
Pairing GLP-1 and SGLT2 Diabetes Drugs May Reduce Risk
New Study Reveals Significant Health Benefits
Combining two classes of diabetes drugs, GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, may help reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and kidney disease, according to a recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Understanding the Benefits
SGLT2 inhibitors, such as Invokana (canagliflozin), lower blood sugar by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, allowing excess sugar to be excreted through urine. GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy, help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.
The Study
The study analyzed data from 12 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving more than 70,000 patients with diabetes. Researchers found that:
- SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by 11% and hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death by 23%.
- The effects on kidney disease progression were even more pronounced: an SGLT2 yielded a reduced risk of 33% compared to a placebo.
- Adding a GLP-1 receptor agonist to an SGLT2 inhibitor further reduced risk by an additional 2% for cardiovascular disease-related hospitalizations and kidney disease progression.
Safety and Tolerability
The study found that safety and tolerability were consistent when an SGLT2 was used individually or paired with a GLP-1 receptor agonist, with no increased number of adverse events when the drugs were used together.
Expert Insights
"Mona Mashayekhi, MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, believes that the study will help guide doctors in treating patients with comorbidities like kidney disease and heart disease. ‘In the new era of diabetes management, the goal is to understand which patient could benefit most from which treatment or treatment combination,’ she said."
What Does This Mean for Patients?
For patients with type 2 diabetes who are at risk for or already have comorbidities like kidney disease, heart failure, or cardiovascular disease, the study suggests that combining GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors may offer a new avenue for treatment. Even for patients without diabetes, the benefits of GLP-1s and SGLT2s are a promising development.
Conclusion
The study provides strong evidence that pairing GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors can reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and kidney disease, without increasing safety concerns. This combination therapy may offer a valuable treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes and comorbidities, as well as those without diabetes.
FAQs
Q: What are GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors?
A: GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of medications that help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, while SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of medications that lower blood sugar by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose.
Q: What are the benefits of combining GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors?
A: The study found that combining GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and kidney disease, without increasing safety concerns.
Q: Who may benefit from this combination therapy?
A: Patients with type 2 diabetes who are at risk for or already have comorbidities like kidney disease, heart failure, or cardiovascular disease may benefit from this combination therapy.
Q: Are there any safety concerns associated with this combination therapy?
A: The study found that safety and tolerability were consistent when an SGLT2 was used individually or paired with a GLP-1 receptor agonist, with no increased number of adverse events when the drugs were used together.
