Abstract
PurposeEvidence of the efficacy and safety of semaglutide among patients with type 2 diabetes who were initiated on or were switched to semaglutide from other GLP-1 RAs remains limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of switching to semaglutide from other GLP-1 RAs.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated patients with type 2 diabetes who were initiated on or were switched to semaglutide due to poor diabetes control with other GLP-1 RAs or other medications, or obesity. HbA1c, body weight, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, parameters of lipid metabolism, and parameters of liver function were measured before and 6 months after administration of semaglutide.ResultsA total of 50 patients were registered in the study. After switching to semaglutide (n = 43), HbA1c and body weight significantly decreased (p < 0.01, p < 0.01), respectively. The same findings were observed in semaglutide-naïve patients (p = 0.04, p < 0.02) (n = 7). Serum uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio decreased significantly as well (p = 0.04, p = 0.04, p = 0.02, p = 0.04), whereas serum creatinine did not change significantly (p = 0.51).ConclusionsSemaglutide showed excellent efficacy, even in patients switched from other GLP-1 RAs. Semaglutide appears to be a promising agent for blood glucose and body weight control in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and could be more potent in treating type 2 diabetes than existing GLP-1 RAs.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease caused by impaired insulin secretion due to β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
43 patients were switched from a conventional GLP-1 RA to semaglutide, and 7 patients were naïve to semaglutide; all patients agreed to be registered in the study
The following GLP-1 RAs were administered before semaglutide in 43 patients; dulaglutide in 24 patients, liraglutide in 18 patients (1.60 ± 0.33 mg), and exenatide in 1 patient (10 μg)
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease caused by impaired insulin secretion due to β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Homeostatic hyperglycemia causes microangiopathy (neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy) and carries a risk of macroangiopathy. Juntendo University, 2‐1‐1 Hongo, Bunkyo‐ku, Tokyo 113‐8421, Japan 3 Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan including cardiovascular disorders [1, 2]. Complications of these vascular disorders are associated with a decrease in patient quality of life, a decrease in healthy life expectancy, and economic disadvantages [3]. Effective medication is essential in severely diabetic patients
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