Combination therapy with SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists as complementary agents that address multi-organ defects in type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has a complex pathophysiology composed of multiple underlying defects that lead to impaired glucose homeostasis and the development of macrovascular and microvascular complications. Of the currently available glucose-lowering therapies, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) both provide effective glycemic control and have been shown to reduce cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with T2D and a high CV risk or established CV disease. Because these agents have complementary mechanisms of action, they are able to act on multiple defects of T2D when used in combination. This review discusses the rationale for and potential benefits of SGLT-2i plus GLP-1RA combination therapy in patients with T2D. A search of the PubMed database was conducted for studies and reviews describing the combined use of SGLT-2is and GLP-1RAs, with a specific focus on identifying clinical studies of combination therapy in patients with T2D. In clinical studies, glycated hemoglobin (A1c) was significantly reduced over 28-52 weeks with SGLT-2i plus GLP-1RA therapy versus the individual agents or baseline. Several CV risk factors, including body weight, blood pressure, and lipid parameters, were also improved. SGLT-2i plus GLP-1RA therapy was generally well tolerated, with a low risk of hypoglycemia and no unexpected findings. Taken together with results from large CV outcomes trials of SGLT-2is and GLP-1RAs, combination therapy with these agents potentially provides effective durable glycemic control and CV benefits due to their complementary actions on the defects of T2D.
['Lajara|Rosemarie|R|']
D001786:Blood Glucose D001794:Blood Pressure D001835:Body Weight D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin A D006801:Humans D007003:Hypoglycemia D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents D008055:Lipids D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic D012307:Risk Factors D000077203:Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
combination therapy type 2 diabetes glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists Cardiovascular risk sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors