Advances in diabetes medicine help protect against other diseases

• Two medicines have been shown to be effective not only in improving diabetes but also in protecting against cardiovascular disease and protecting the kidneys.

October 2023, CLEVELAND: According to Cleveland Clinic diabetes is a condition that happens when your blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It develops when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or any at all, or when your body isn’t responding properly to the effects of insulin. Diabetes affects people of all ages. Most forms of diabetes are chronic (lifelong), and all forms can be managed with medicines and/or lifestyle changes.

Glucose (sugar) mainly comes from carbohydrates in food and drinks. It’s your body’s source of energy. Your blood carries glucose to all your body’s cells to use for energy.

When glucose is in your bloodstream, it needs help – a “key” – to reach its final destination. This key is insulin (a hormone ). If your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin or your body isn’t using it properly, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, causing high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) .

Over time, having consistently high blood glucose can cause health problems, such as heart disease , nerve damage and eye problems. Around 537 million adults worldwide have diabetes. Experts predict this number will rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst ( polydipsia ) and dry mouth .
• Frequent urination .
• Fatigue.
• Blurred vision .
• Unexplained weight loss .
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
• Slow-healing sores or cuts.
• Frequent vaginal and/or skin yeast infections.

Medical advances

The latest diabetes medicines include a pill that works through a system independent of insulin, called SGLT2 inhibitors, and a mostly injectable medicine that acts as an agonist of a hormone called GLP1. These two medicines have been shown to be effective not only in improving diabetes but also in protecting against cardiovascular disease and protecting the kidneys.

They lower patients’ A1c by roughly 1-1.5 points when given individually, and when combined they can lower A1c by up to 2 points. Dr. Ricardo Correa Marquez, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic, says “this is pretty good. The advantage of these medicines lies in their other protective effects on the heart and kidneys and in weight loss, which help patients generally and with the complications of diabetes.”

The focus is on developing medicines that, as well as helping with blood sugar, can help with other complications. There are already studies of other medicines with similar mechanisms that help patients reach their goals and improve their quality of life.

Being diagnosed with diabetes is a life-changing event, but it doesn’t mean you can’t live a happy and healthy life. Managing diabetes involves consistent, diligent care. While it’s likely to feel very overwhelming at first, over time you’ll get a better grasp of managing the condition and being in tune with your body.

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About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based on the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States.

U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 72,500 employees worldwide are more than 5,050 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,800 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties.  Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 21 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England.

In 2021, there were 10.2 million outpatient visits, 304,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 259,000 surgeries across Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries.  

Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

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