Efficacy of liraglutide therapy in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients insufficiently controlled with basal-supported oral therapy

Abstract

Aims/Introduction: We assessed the efficacy of liraglutide therapy in Japanese type2 diabetic patients insufficiently controlled with basal-supported oral therapy (BOT). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 37 patients who had postprandial hyperglycemia (≥10.0mmol/L) with BOT (long-acting insulin plus glimepiride) with their insulin titrated enough to keep preprandial glycemia <7.2mmol/L, and who had their treatment changed to liraglutide monotherapy, with the subsequent addition of glimepiride, when required. Those who achieved the glycemic target at all points (preprandial glycemia <7.2mmol/L and postprandial glycemia <10.0mmol/L) were regarded as responders and the efficacy of liraglutide therapy was assessed. We also explored the predictive clinical characteristics associated with its efficacy. Results: Daily doses of insulin and glimepiride with BOT were 14±9units and 1.5±0.9mg, respectively. After the change to liraglutide therapy, 37% of the patients appeared to be responders to the therapy, whereas 12% had their glycemic control rather deteriorated. Efficacy of liraglutide therapy was significantly associated with baseline insulin dosage and post-breakfast glycemia with BOT. The C-statistic of the model was calculated to be 0.90. Conclusions: There were responders and non-responders to liraglutide therapy in Japanese BOT failures. It is likely that baseline insulin dosage and post-breakfast glycemia with BOT are clinically useful indicators for the efficacy of liraglutide therapy. © 2012 Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.