Retrospective analysis of safety and efficacy of liraglutide monotherapy and sulfonylurea-combination therapy in Japanese type 2 diabetes: Association of remaining β-cell function and achievement of HbA1c target one year after initiation

Abstract

Despite numerous limitations, these results indicate that long-term efficacy of liraglutide is associated with remaining β-cell function at initiation.

Reduction of visceral fat by liraglutide is associated with ameliorations of hepatic steatosis, albuminuria, and micro-inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients with insulin treatment: a randomized control trial

“…Seino Y, et al has recently reported that the addition of liraglutide to insulin treatment reduces body weight at week 16 but the statistical significance was no longer observed by week 36 in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes [25] which is consistent with the finding in this study. Usui R et al also showed in a retrospective observational study that liraglutide reduces body weight by 18 weeks and body weight was subsequently increased [26]. It is to be elucidated whether liraglutide could maintain reduction of body fat, especially visceral fat for the long term.…”

Dulaglutide (LY-2189265) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

“…Clinical markers of low β-cell function have been shown to be associated with reduced glycemic response to GLP-1 RA therapy both in a Caucasian population from UK [51] and in Asian patients, [52] with lower durability of the glucose-lowering effect as noticed with liraglutide therapy. [53] A post-hoc analysis of AWARD trials demonstrated that early (2 weeks) fasting glucose measurements can predict later glycemic response to once weekly dulaglutide. [54] Finally, it should be noticed that current available data don't provide any information about the clinical efficacy of dulaglutide on hard outcomes, especially macrovascular and microvascular complications.…”

Reply to the comment of Wilbrink et al. on Retrospective analysis of liraglutide and basal insulin combination therapy in Japanese type 2 diabetes: The association between remaining β‐cell function and the achievement of the HbA1c target 1 year after initiation

“…We previously showed that discontinuation of liraglutide as a result of hyperglycemia after switching from insulin is affected by remaining β‐cell function and type 2 diabetes duration3. In addition, we also reported that the HbA1c‐lowering effects of liraglutide monotherapy and sulfonylurea combination rely on remaining β‐cell function and type 2 diabetes duration (Figure 1a) in a study in which 74% of the study patients had been taking insulin before initiating liraglutide4. Importantly, the C‐peptide immunoreactivity index cut‐off value for HbA1c < 7.0% achievement by liraglutide monotherapy and sulfonylurea combination was higher than that of liraglutide/basal combination (1.86 and 1.10, respectively)2, 4.…”

“…In addition, we also reported that the HbA1c‐lowering effects of liraglutide monotherapy and sulfonylurea combination rely on remaining β‐cell function and type 2 diabetes duration (Figure 1a) in a study in which 74% of the study patients had been taking insulin before initiating liraglutide4. Importantly, the C‐peptide immunoreactivity index cut‐off value for HbA1c < 7.0% achievement by liraglutide monotherapy and sulfonylurea combination was higher than that of liraglutide/basal combination (1.86 and 1.10, respectively)2, 4. It is widely accepted that β‐cell function progressively declines over time in type 2 diabetes patients, making it difficult to obtain appropriate glycemic control without insulin use5, 6.…”