In a large clinical trial comparing four drug medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, researchers found that insulin glargine and liraglutide performed the best to maintain blood glucose levels in the recommended range. All four medications evaluated were added to treatment with metformin, which is the first-line drug to treat type 2 diabetes. Of the 37 million Americans who have diabetes, approximately 90% to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes, and people with diabetes who keep their blood glucose levels in the near-normal range have a lower risk of developing diabetes complications such as nerve, kidney, and eye diseases. While there is general agreement that a combination of metformin, diet, and exercise is the best early approach in diabetes care, there is no consensus on what to do next to best keep high blood glucose in check.
The study...
