GLP-1 Diabetes Drug Neutral For The Heart

GLP-1 Diabetes Drug Neutral for the Heart

GLP-1 Diabetes Drug Neutral for the Heart
-Once-weekly exenatide safe for CV outcomes but falls short of showing benefit
by Crystal Phend, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today 2017-09-14
This article is a collaboration between MedPage Today and:
LISBON -- Extended-release exenatide (Bydureon) was safe for the heart but didn't help prevent cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes among a mixed primary and secondary prevention population, the EXSCEL trial showed.
For the primary composite endpoint of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke, the once-weekly GLP-1 diabetes drug fell just short of showing a cardiovascular benefit, Rury Holman, FRCP, of the Diabetes Trials Unit at the University of Oxford in England, and colleagues reported here at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting and in a paper published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine .
Note that this large, pragmatic randomized trial failed to demonstrate that extended release exenatide was superior to placebo in terms of cardiac outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes.
This stands in contrast to trials with certain other agents in the GLP-1 class, which showed beneficial cardiovascular effects.
Rates for the composite after median follow-up of 3.2 years were 11.4% with the drug versus 12.2% with placebo (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-1.00), each used along with usual care. That translated to noninferiority for safety (P<0.001 for noninferiority) but missed superiority for efficacy (P=0.06 for superiority), as had been annou Continue reading

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Abbott Secures Health Canada License for FreeStyle Libre System for People with Diabetes - Jun 29, 2017

Abbott Secures Health Canada License for FreeStyle Libre System for People with Diabetes
- Revolutionary system eliminates the need for routine finger sticks1 and finger stick calibration
- Provides real-time glucose levels for up to 14 days
- Will be reimbursed by two major Canadian insurers; available in the coming months across Canada
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., June 29, 2017 / PRNewswire / -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the Health Canada license of its FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System, a revolutionary new glucose sensing technology for Canadian adults with diabetes. The first-of-its-kind system eliminates the need for routine finger sticks,1 requires no finger stick calibration, and reads glucose levels through a sensor that can be worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days.
"The first word that came to mind when I learned about FreeStyle Libre was 'freedom'," said Maria Miclea, who has been managing her Type 1 diabetes for eight years. "Freedom from the pain of routine testing and from social awkwardness. Also, peace of mind, knowing that I can quickly and easily scan my glucose levels whenever and wherever I want to help better manage my diabetes."
With traditional glucose monitoring systems, people with diabetes often have to stick their finger a number of times throughout the day2,3 to test their glucose levels. With Abbott's FreeStyle Libre system, people now have a convenient, less painful alternative to get a glucose reading. The disposable sensor is worn on the back of the upper arm. The system measures glucose every minute in int Continue reading

Ghana ranks 6th on diabetes table in Africa

Ghana has been ranked sixth among other Africa countries, according to statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on diabetes between 2016 and 2017.
The Chairperson of International Diabetes Federation of West Africa, also President of National Diabetes Association of Ghana, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, who made this known at the commemoration of the 2017 World Diabetes Day at Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region, explained that it is estimated that undiagnosed diabetes accounts for 60 percent of those with the disease in Cameroon, 70 percent in Ghana and over 80 percent in Tanzania.
She said Ghana, among other Africa countries, counts approximately 13.6 million people with diabetes, which includes sub-Saharan Africa counts over seven million people with diabetes.
According to her, Nigeria has the highest number of 1,218,000 diabetes cases, followed by Uganda and Tanzania.
Speaking further on the theme: ‘Women Unite Against Diabetes’, Mrs Denyoh appealed to the government to reverse the decision of the cancellation of VAT exemptions on all the diabetes drugs because of their high cost in order to enable patients to afford them.
She also called on parliament to take a look at introducing the ‘sin taxes’ to tax fizzy drinks, alcoholic beverages, sweets and cigarettes so that the proceeds would go into the care of non-communicable diseases.
199m Women Diabetics
Dr Charity Sarpong, Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, disclosed that over 199 million women are currently living with diabetes worldwide.
“This is projected to increase to Continue reading

Northern Ontario lacks diabetes resources

Northern Ontario lacks diabetes resources
Thursday, November 23, 2017 3:56:04 EST AM
World Diabetes Day is Nov. 14 and the International Diabetes Federation encourages getting screened for type 2 diabetes to reduce the risk of complications. (Metro News Service)
NORTHERN ONTARIO - It could be dubbed a diabetes catch-22.
In pockets of Ontario where the disease is so prevalent, resources to treat and promote healthy lifestyles to nip some forms of diabetes in the bud are often most sparse.
So, if you're in downtown Toronto, you can probably get to a dietitian or diabetes educator who can advise you about your risk and help you get going on a lifestyle program Those resources are so much less available in the North, says Dr. Jan Hux, chief science officer for Diabetes Canada.
North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) figures have suggested that at least 12 per cent of Northeastern Ontarios population is affected by the often debilitating and sometimes fatal disease, compared to some 10 per cent of Ontarians. Statistics are even more staggering for those living along the Hudson Bay and James Bay coast, where some 24 per cent of the population lives with diabetes.
Many high-risk communities, where there are large pockets of low-income neighbourhoods, are often dogged with limited access to recreation opportunities.
They can't afford the gym membership, they can't afford the running shoes, they can't afford the babysitter, Hux told The Sault Star in an interview from Toronto. So, (opportunities) may be there, but they're not accessible to them.
About 90 Continue reading

A Practical Approach to Hypertension Management in Diabetes

, Volume 8, Issue5 , pp 981989 | Cite as
A Practical Approach to Hypertension Management in Diabetes
Hypertension is one of the most important comorbidities of diabetes, contributing significantly to death and disability and leads to macrovascular and microvascular complications. When assessing the medical priorities for patients with diabetes, treating hypertension should be a primary consideration. Practical approaches to hypertension in diabetes, including individualized targets are discussed, as per stage and complication of diabetes, according to current studies and guidelines. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are the most effective drugs for treating hypertension in diabetes, in the absence of contraindications. Calcium antagonists or diuretics are acceptable as second-line agents. Once the target is achieved, antihypertensive drugs should be continued. Newer antidiabetes medications such as sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) have antihypertensive properties and may assist in treatment decision-making.
AntidiabeticAntihypertensiveAzilsartanDiabetes, DPP4GLP1RaHypertensionMacrovascularMicrovascularSGLT2
Hypertension is one of the most important comorbidities of diabetes [ 1 , 2 ], contributing significantly to death and disability [ 3 ]. It is responsible for macrovascular (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke) and microvascular (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephr Continue reading