Major revolution in the management of type 2 diabetes through fat injections set to occur, with patients receiving these treatments
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has proposed a significant shift in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, aiming to save thousands of lives and improve health outcomes for all patients.
According to the latest guidelines, SGLT-2 inhibitors, a class of drugs known for their cardiovascular and renal benefits, are set to play a pivotal role in modern diabetes care. These medications, which include drugs like Ozempic (a GLP-1 receptor agonist), have been shown to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure, cardiovascular death, and progression of kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
Professor Benger, a leading expert, emphasised the need to address prescribing gaps to increase equitable uptake of SGLT-2 inhibitors. The evidence, he stated, is clear. These drugs can potentially save almost 22,000 lives once uptake reaches 90% of patients.
The new guidelines also advocate for a more personalised approach to treatment. Patients who cannot tolerate metformin, the first-choice type 2 diabetes medication, should start with an SGLT-2 inhibitor on its own according to the new recommendations. Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before 40 should be offered dual therapy before fat jabs are considered.
Moreover, the new guidelines emphasise a more 'holistic' approach to treating type 2 diabetes. This means moving beyond simply managing blood sugar to taking a comprehensive view of a person's health, particularly their cardiovascular and kidney health.
The under-prescription of SGLT-2 inhibitors is being addressed in the new guidelines. NICE analysed the records of 590,000 people and found these drugs are under-prescribed, particularly to women, older people, and black patients. To address this issue, the draft guidance suggests different treatments for diabetes patients with certain characteristics or health conditions.
For instance, adults with cardiovascular disease should be offered a triple therapy including weight-loss jabs. Patients with chronic kidney disease should have tailored recommendations based on their kidney function.
The public consultation on the new NICE guidelines is open until October 2. Ozempic is already licensed in the UK to treat type 2 diabetes, and its other brand, Wegovy, is used by the NHS to help obese people lose weight. It's estimated that a further 1.3 million people may have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Dr Waqaar Shah added that the recommendations could help reduce health inequalities while providing better outcomes for everyone. The new guidelines represent a significant evolution in how type 2 diabetes treatment is approached, marking a crucial step towards better health for millions of people living with the condition.
