Endocrine Abstracts

Aims: To evaluate the effect of Liraglutide on clinical parameters in obese Type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycemic control despite treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) and insulin.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty three (M:232, F:121) obese (according to Asian-Indian criteria) type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c>7% & <10%) attending outpatients clinic on insulin and OHAs were initiated on liraglutide. Weight, Blood pressure, BMI, HbA1c, fasting lipids, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and insulin doses (basal, prandial & total) were recorded at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Side effect profiles were recorded.

Results: Ten patients discontinued therapy because of nausea. The remaining patients demonstrated a reduction in mean HbA1c by 0.9±0.21% (P<0.001), weight reduced by 10.7±0.7 kg (P<0.001) and insulin doses were reduced from 83.1+3.9 U to 52.2+5.3 U (P<0.001). There was a reduction in serum total cholesterol by 12.4±4.1% (P=0.03), triglycerides by 30±4.6% (P=0.01), systolic blood pressure by 10.2±2.5 mm Hg (P=0.01), and hsCRP by 29±11.3% (P=0.02). There was also a reduction in glycemic excursions at the end of study period. Hypoglycemia was seen in 4 patients. Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, and constipation were main adverse events noticed in patients.

Conclusions: The addition of Liraglutide effectively treats obese type 2 diabetics on insulin, leading to weight loss and reduction in levels of HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, tri¬glycerides, hsCRP & a significant reduction in insulin dosages. Liraglutide could be considered in a subset of obese type 2 diabetics with poor glycemic control who might gain more weight and be exposed to hypoglycaemia with increasing doses of insulin in striving to achieve adequate glycemia.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.