New medicines to improve diabetes and protect against other diseases
3 minutes read
- The latest diabetes medicines include a pill that works through a system independent of insulin and a mostly injectable medicine.
Santo Domingo.- Did you know that August is Diabetes Month in the Dominican Republic? Diabetes is a relatively silent chronic disease characterised by raised glucose, or sugar, in the blood.
Some factors that may increase the risk of the disease include age (older adults), obesity, a family history of diabetes and not exercising. To mark the occasion, Cleveland Clinic endocrinologist Ricardo Correa Marquez talks about some new medicines.
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,” explains the specialist.
They lower A1c (a blood haemoglobin test that shows patients’ average blood sugar level) by roughly 1-1.5 points when given individually, and when combined they can lower A1c by up to 2 points. This is pretty good.
Among the advantages of these medicines, Correa Marquez points to their protective effects on the heart and kidneys and the weight loss they bring, which help patients generally and with the complications of diabetes.
In addition, there are already studies of other medicines with similar mechanisms that work to help patients reach their goals and improve their quality of life.
Looking to the future development of new diabetes medicines, the focus is on developing medicines that, as well as controlling blood sugar levels, can address other complications.
Expert: Ricardo Correa Marquez, MD, Cleveland Clinic endocrinologist
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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