New Drug for Type 2 Diabetes in the Works
The occurrence of type 2 diabetes in America is no surprise, with more cases emerging within younger children and teens. Individuals with type 2 diabetes have issues with regulating sugar due to insulin resistance, leading to high blood sugar levels. While the disease currently has no cure, there are ways to manage the disease: exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and other medications.
To add on to the current standard of care, a drug called tirzepatide was recently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and works by targeting naturally occurring hormones responsible for controlling blood sugar levels. This allows the drug to effectively send signals to the brain that tell the body that the gut is "full."
A recent study led by the Yale School of Medicine found that patients who took the drug lost significant weight. All participants were adults at least the age of 18, had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more or had a BMI of 27 with another weight related complication, and all reported at least one unsuccessful attempt at losing weight. BMI is a measure of body fat and weight; although BMI often leads to an inaccurate representation, it does give a general idea of fat percentage. The researchers also defined “other weight related complications,” such as hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels), obstructive sleep apnea (disruptions in sleep due to breathing problems), or cardiovascular disease.
To add on to the current standard of care, a drug called tirzepatide was recently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and works by targeting naturally occurring hormones responsible for controlling blood sugar levels. This allows the drug to effectively send signals to the brain that tell the body that the gut is "full."
A recent study led by the Yale School of Medicine found that patients who took the drug lost significant weight. All participants were adults at least the age of 18, had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more or had a BMI of 27 with another weight related complication, and all reported at least one unsuccessful attempt at losing weight. BMI is a measure of body fat and weight; although BMI often leads to an inaccurate representation, it does give a general idea of fat percentage. The researchers also defined “other weight related complications,” such as hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels), obstructive sleep apnea (disruptions in sleep due to breathing problems), or cardiovascular disease.
Individuals with diabetes must often regularly test their blood sugar and take insulin; however, the emergence of a new drug may help alleviate this burden.
Image Source: Diabetesmagazijn.nl
The researchers studied the drug’s effectiveness at three different doses, with those who took the highest dose losing as much as 21% of their body weight—the equivalent of about 50 to 60 pounds for some participants. Very few weight loss treatment options have been able to result in such drastic weight loss results other than surgery. This may have important clinical implications for the way physicians treat diabetes, as they can focus on decreasing blood sugar levels and managing body weight.
Aside from the intended effects, the clinical trials also monitored for unwanted side effects. Participants that dropped out of the 72-week drug trial were most often due to gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. However, for most people, the drug produced minimal side effects.
Due to the positive results from the trials, the Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide under the trade name Mounjaro, though it is not available for weight loss alone (only for type 2 diabetes treatment). However, further trials must be conducted to determine whether remission is a concern and if the drug would be able to reduce other diabetic symptoms, such as cardiovascular issues.
Aside from the intended effects, the clinical trials also monitored for unwanted side effects. Participants that dropped out of the 72-week drug trial were most often due to gastrointestinal (GI) side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. However, for most people, the drug produced minimal side effects.
Due to the positive results from the trials, the Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide under the trade name Mounjaro, though it is not available for weight loss alone (only for type 2 diabetes treatment). However, further trials must be conducted to determine whether remission is a concern and if the drug would be able to reduce other diabetic symptoms, such as cardiovascular issues.
Featured Image Source: Mykenzie Johnson
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