Sulfonylureas in the news

Second-line therapy choices for people with type 2 diabetes vary widely throughout the world and are influenced not only by clinical characteristics but also non-medical factors such as affordability and availability, results from the DISCOVER study show.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin and the sulfonylurea glimepiride have similar cardiovascular safety profiles, show the results of the CAROLINA trial.

Hypoglycemia is common among people being treated for type 2 diabetes, particularly those using insulin or a sulfonylurea, but the risk for severe episodes is only elevated among insulin users, suggest results of a prospective UK study.

Baseline glucose control, diabetes duration, and BMI all impact whether an individual achieves optimal glucose control after a genetic diagnosis and treatment change for maturity onset diabetes of the young, UK researchers report.

Diabetes medications are frequently unavailable and unaffordable, particularly in lower-income countries, shows an analysis of the PURE study.

Researchers have used data from clinical practice and randomized trials to identify simple predictors of patient response to sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones.

Research shows an increased mortality risk associated with the use of intensive antidiabetes treatments in older patients with type 2 diabetes.

Reducing calorie intake to a quarter of normal needs for 2 days per week is as effective as smaller daily reductions in patients with type 2 diabetes, although care with either approach is needed for those with a history of hypoglycemia, shows a randomized trial.

Research shows that starting second-line sulfonylurea treatment is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular and hypoglycemic events among patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice, although the risk is less if they continue using metformin rather than switching completely.

Dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin offers a realistic alternative to both insulin and glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes poorly controlled by metformin, show two studies presented at the ADA’s 78th Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Sulfonylurea treatment is durably effective with a low rate of side effects in patients with permanent neonatal diabetes caused by mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, a study in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology shows.

A head-to-head trial in women with gestational diabetes has failed to prove that glyburide is statistically noninferior to insulin in terms of perinatal outcomes.

Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy are at particularly high risk for delivering a baby that is large for its gestational age, say researchers.

Results of a US database study suggest that the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor canagliflozin is associated with a lower risk for heart failure hospitalization compared with three other classes of antidiabetes agent.

The two diabetes-related Cochrane reviews published in November focus on the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes.

Patients initiating treatment for type 2 diabetes with sulfonylureas are more than four times as likely to be hospitalized with hypoglycemia as those treated with metformin, population-based study data show.

Research suggests that older diabetes patients, particularly those using insulin, often have nonspecific symptoms of hypoglycemia that are overlooked by healthcare providers.

 The TOCSA.IT investigators have found no differences in cardiovascular disease outcomes between patients with type 2 diabetes taking pioglitazone versus sulfonylurea over nearly 5 years.

Patients with type 2 diabetes who experience hypoglycemia during sulfonylurea treatment are at greater risk for cardiovascular events than those who do not experience hypoglycemia, results of a US study suggest.

The SUSTAIN 4 findings show that a weekly semaglutide injection offers better metabolic and weight control than insulin in patients with diabetes that is poorly controlled on metformin.