1077-P: De-escalation Treatment (DET): A Personalized Pharmacological Intervention to Stop Disease Progression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic progressive disease with increasing drug demands. It is comprised of a hereditary ß-cell dysfunction, (ßCD), insulin resistance (IR), and chronic systemic inflammation (CSI), which can be present with different degrees of severity. We have tested an alternative approach to the common drug escalation programs. DET (De-Escalation Treatment), temporary, multi-drug intervention targets to improve ß-Cell function and reverse disease progression. A personalized drug combination for a three-month treatment is determined based on a biomarker panel consisting of classic and new biomarkers. 22 patients (8 women, 14 men, age: 62±8 yrs., disease duration: 12±7 yrs., HbA1c: 7.8 %, BMI: 33.2±2.4 kg/m², treatment with 1 or 2 oral drugs) were treated with follow-up periods of up to 12 years. DET consisted of low doses each of basal insulin to address ßCD, treatment of IR (exercise and/or pioglitazone), a drug to reduce CSI (diet, GLP-1, or SGLTII) and a hypoglycemic intervention (metformin, or DPP-IV). The DET approach was well tolerated (nausea: 4 cases, edema: 1 case). All patients experienced a normalization or pronounced improvement of glycemic control without report of hypoglycemia. Mean HbA1c after 3 months was 5.9±0.4 %. Intact proinsulin decreased from 9.3±2.1 pmol/L to 2.3±0.6 pmol/L, adiponectin improved from 3.4±1.2 to 8.6±2.4 mg/dL, and mean body weight decreased by 2.4±1.1 kg (all: p<0.01). After the DET, treatment was continued with lifestyle only or a drug monotherapy targeting the major component of their individual diabetes phenotype. This DET “honeymoon“ effect lasted in the mean for about 2 years (range until next DET: 6 months to >11 years). Regeneration of ß-cell function by means of DET resulted in a temporary stop of chronic disease progression. A formal prospective clinical study to investigate the practicability of this approach in routine clinical practice is currently ongoing. Disclosure A. Pfützner: Consultant; Self; LifeCare, Inc., Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; CNOGA Medical, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Sanofi-Aventis. A. Manessis: Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc., Sciema GmbH. L. Do: Research Support; Self; Sciema GmbH. M. Hanna: None. Funding Diabetes Treatment Centers International