In a big clinical trial that directly compared 4 drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School aided in the invention that insulin glargine and liraglutide performed best. The outcomes were published in a pair of papers in The Latest England Journal of Medicine.
The GRADE study is the primary to match the efficacy of 4 drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes when added to metformin in individuals with short-duration diabetes. It found that liraglutide was superior to glimepiride and sitagliptin in controlling blood sugars. This study provides evidence that clinicians can use in developing treatment plans with their patient.”
Elizabeth Seaquist, MD, Department of Medicine Chair on the U of M Medical School and Endocrinologist with M Health Fairview
The study found that participants taking metformin plus liraglutide or insulin glargine achieved and maintained their goal blood levels for the longest time in comparison with sitagliptin or glimepiride. This translated into roughly six months more time with blood glucose levels within the goal range compared with sitagliptin, which was the least effective in maintaining goal levels. Treatment effects didn’t differ based on age, sex, race or ethnicity. Nevertheless, not one of the mixtures overwhelmingly outperformed the others.
Launched in 2013, the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness (GRADE) Study was conducted at centers across the country, including the University of Minnesota. It was designed to match 4 major medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the time GRADE began to treat diabetes together with metformin. While there may be general agreement amongst health care professionals that metformin combined with food plan and exercise is the most effective early approach in diabetes care, there isn’t any consensus on what to do next to best keep high blood glucose in check.
The GRADE Study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01DK098246). Additional support was provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the American Diabetes Association. The Department of Veterans Affairs provided resources and facilities. Material support in the shape of donated medications and supplies has been provided by Becton, Dickinson and Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk, Roche Diagnostics, and Sanofi. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01794143.
Source:
University of Minnesota Medical School
Journal reference:
The GRADE Study Research Group., (2022) Glycemia reduction in type 2 diabetes — glycemic outcomes. Latest England Journal of Medicine. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2200433.