Newer Strategies in Diabetes Management

Diabetes has become an important public health problem throughout the world. This substantial global burning brings with it the huge challenge of providing effective treatment strategies to those affected. We have evidence that intervention to lower glucose levels will improve outcome & in clinical practice we continually strive to achieve optimal control of Diabetes & other risk factors to reduce morbidity & mortality. Glucagon-like Peptide (GLP-1) analogue-Liraglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 analogue currently in late stages of clinical development as a once-daily treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes. Vilsboell et al used liraglutide as monotherapy in 165 patients for 14 weeks. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly lower on liraglutide than on Placebo & the treatment was well tolerated. A dose-dependent weight reduction was observed with liraglutide. There were no reported episodes of major or minor hypoglycemia.1 The same group of researchers also noted a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations with liraglutide. Liraglutide markedly improved Beta-cell function, first-phase insulin secretion and maximal Beta-cell secretory capacity.2,3 In another interesting study, human pancreatic Beta-cells were exposed to liraglutide and it was found that native human Beta-cell differentiation occurs in response to Iiraglu-tide via GLP-1 receptors. Therefore, liraglutide might help to increase the Beta-cell numbers in type-2 diabetic patients.4,5