New research into the impact of weight loss and glycaemic control on people with type 2 diabetes has emphasised the importance of treating both to improve outcomes.
Researchers from Cleveland Clinic carried out what is believed to be the first study assessing the real-world contributions of weight loss and glycaemic control on clinical outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes treated with antidiabetic medications, GLP-1RAs – the class of drug that includes Ozempic and Wegovy.
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They found that each 1% reduction in body mass index (BMI), independent of glycaemic change, was associated with a 3% reduction in heart failure risk.
Meanwhile, glycaemic control, independent of weight change, was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes treated with antidiabetic medications.
For those treated with GLP-1RAs, each 1% BMI reduction, independent of glycaemic change, was associated with a 4% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk, and glycaemic control, independent of weight change, was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk.
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The authors said: “This is clinically meaningful, as it highlights the value of treating people with type 2 diabetes for both glycaemic control and obesity.”
The retrospective study used data from electronic health records from more than 1,300 people with type 2 diabetes evaluated at Cleveland Clinic.
Read more in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
