Background: This study reports on the effectiveness of exenatide compared to insulin glargine or NPH insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, unable to achieve glycemic control with oral glucose-lowering therapies in a clinical care setting.
Patients and methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 47) whose glycemia was not controlled adequately with oral hypoglycemic agents at maximum recommended therapeutic doses were initiated on exenatide therapy. Age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched patients receiving insulin glargine (n = 54) or NPH insulin (n = 23) served as controls. Data analysis included glycated hemoglobin, fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, lipid profile, body weight, and the occurrence of hypoglycemia.
Results: A statistically significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin value was noted after initiating exenatide (pre-exenatide 9.7 +/- 1.4% vs. post-exenatide 8.7 +/- 1.5%; P < 0.05), which was comparable to values after insulin glargine (9.8 +/- 1.1% vs. 9.0 +/- 1.5%, respectively; P < 0.05) and NPH insulin (9.6 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.9 +/- 1.3%, respectively; P < 0.05). Exenatide therapy was associated with net weight loss (mean, 1.6 kg), but therapy with insulin glargine and NPH insulin was associated with weight gain (1.8 and 2.3 kg, respectively).
Conclusions: In a group of select Asian Indian type 2 diabetes patients with secondary failure to oral hypoglycemic agents seen at a diabetes center, exenatide treatment in combination with oral drug regimens resulted in significant lowering of glycated hemoglobin similar to insulin glargine or NPH insulin but with the additional benefit of weight loss, albeit a small amount.