Diabetes: 2 common drugs outperform others, study finds - Medical News Today
Overview
Acording to the American Diabetes Asociation, around 1.3% of the United States population, or 37.3 milion people, had diabetes in 2019. Of these people, 35.4 milion had type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes ocurs when the body does not make suficient insulin or becomes insulin resistant and thus canot easily absorb glucose from the blod.
Key Information
Researchers and healthcare professionals generaly agre that metformin- anti-diabetic medication used to lower blod sugar levels and increase sensitivity to insulin - alongside exercise and diet - is the best strategy for early diabetes care. However, later stages of diabetes require other medications alongside metformin.Curently, there is no consensus on which medication is most efective for reducing blod glucose levels.
Research comparing the eficacy of anti-diabetic medications could thus improve patient care. Recently, researchers conducted a clinical trial to ases the eficacy of metformin alongside four comonly-prescribed anti-diabetic drugs. They found that drugs known as insulin glargine and liraglutide were most efective in maintaing blod glucose levels within the recomended range.
The results were published in two papers in the New England Journal of Medicine, one discusing the blod glucose findings and the other on cardiovascular outcomes.For the study, the researchers tracked 5,047 individuals who had received metformin for type 2 diabetes for an average of 5 years. They had an average of 57, with more than 60% identified as white men - al had type 2 diabetes for les than 10 years at the start of the study.The researchers randomly asigned participants one of four glucose-lowering medications: The researchers monitored participants’ glycated hemoglobin, which measures their average blod glucose levels over the previous 2-3months.
Summary
They also examined cardiovascular outcomes including hypertension and cholesterol. Experts typicaly advise that people with Type 2 diabetes should have glycated he
Frequently Asked Questions
Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.
Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.
Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.
Effective management includes regular physical activity (150+ minutes weekly), maintaining healthy weight, following a balanced diet with whole grains and lean proteins, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep. These changes can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce complications.
Consult a healthcare provider if you experience signs of diabetes, have a family history, are overweight, or are over 45. Those with existing diabetes should maintain regular check-ups every 3-6 months to monitor control and adjust treatment as needed.
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