City-based endocrinologists and diabetologists have adopted a new standard of care in diabetes management that reduces the risk of cardiovascular and renal disease in patients with type-2 diabetes.
The doctors are using a new molecule named ‘Empagliflozin’ on their patients and have found a good reduction in blood sugar levels during daytime.
The shift in management of the disease is based on the findings of the latest EMPA REG Outcome study that suggests a significant reduction in the risk of progressive kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease (CVD).
“All the drugs available so far, including insulin, are primarily meant to reduce blood glucose levels to normal limits. But over the years, what we have seen is despite reducing blood sugar and controlling other risk factors like cholesterol, hypertension, weight and smoking, the risk of CVD remains high. That is why researchers took up a global study and the findings were presented at the recent annual conference of the American Diabetes Association (ADA),” said city-based endocrinologist Mohan Badgandi, who is also a member of ADA.
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Pointing out that the new standard of care was the main discussion at the conference, Dr. Badgandi said endocrinologists from across the globe are now recommending wider use of the new molecule. The study has also been published in the September issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. All International Associations of Diabetes have complimented the findings of the study, he said.
The global study involving 7,020 type-2 diabetes patients included 163 patients from India, including 23 from Bengaluru. Kidney disease affects about 50 per cent of people with type-2 diabetes, and people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop CVD than people without it. This is because of factors such as such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure and obesity.
Another city-based diabetologist, Aravinda Jagadish, said uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications such as CVD, kidney problems or other serious health complications. “In our city, up to 40 per cent people with type-2 diabetes are also at risk of developing kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure and eventually need dialysis. The new molecule is found to reduce the progression of the disease in patients,” he said.
Quoting the study, the doctors said, “According to the trial, Empagliflozin reduced the risk for new onset or worsening kidney disease by 39 per cent versus placebo when added to standard of care in people with type-2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease.”
Conventional way
Have a glucose-centric approach
Result in weight gain or help it remain neutral
Hypoglycemia
New way
Glucose control and beyond
Reduce blood pressure
Lower risk of hypoglycemia
Reduce cardiovascular disease risk
Slow progression of kidney disease
