Type II diabetes mellitus: there is salvation
The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing from year to year. In Russia, according to official statistics, 3.7 million cases of diabetes were registered in 2015 [1]. But according to the results of control and epidemiological studies of the FGBU Endocrinological Research Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, these figures are understated by 3-4 times. One of the reasons for the inaccuracy is that latent forms of diabetes were not taken into account.
The mechanism of development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the complexity of treatment
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which glucose utilization is impaired. Unlike type 1 diabetes, in which the production of its own insulin is reduced and therefore requires constant replenishment of the hormone deficiency, in the second type, measures are aimed at lowering sugar.
This also means physical activity, and a revision of lifestyle and nutrition. Drug support is also needed. Despite the seeming simplicity in treatment, it is not always possible to "keep" glycemia within the normal range. The reason is this: diabetes mellitus has a progressive course. In addition, patients do not always comply with the doctor's recommendations for treatment and lifestyle. The reluctance to start injection therapy due to fear of the procedure and its complexity further exacerbates the situation. Therefore, the effectiveness of treatment decreases, the risk of complications increases, the most frequent of which is microangiopathy.
These challenges indicate that new solutions are needed that effortlessly help keep blood sugar under control and improve quality of life. These parameters are suitable for Trulicity ™ (dulaglutide), thanks to which patients will be able to change their attitude towards injectable therapy.
Modern approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes
At the beginning of spring, an important event in medicine in general, and in endocrinology in particular, took place in our capital: the III All-Russian Endocrinological Congress was held, which covered the application of innovative technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the endocrine glands. As in all events of this level, at the congress, specialists and experts exchanged their experience in patient management, scientific achievements, and pharmaceutical companies presented new drugs.
Lilly, which has been a leader in the pharmaceutical market for 140 years, presented Trulicity ™ (dulaglutide), an innovative anti-hypoglycemic drug, at a symposium held as part of the congress. The appearance of the drug in Russian pharmacies was announced in the near future.
Dulaglutide is a drug that belongs to the class of GLP-1 agonists (enhancers). This is the first drug in our country that allows patients to improve their condition by making injections only once every 7 days.
The drug, in terms of its effectiveness and lack of risk of hypoglycemia, is superior to other drugs used in type 2 diabetes. Studies [2] have shown that the drug begins to show activity only when glucose increases.
The agent is injected subcutaneously through a syringe pen. The manipulation is simple and practically painless. The patient easily copes with the task without assistance. There is no need to draw the medicine before each injection: the syringe is already loaded with a certain number of doses of the drug. You just have to change the syringe pen to a new one as the solution is consumed.
Most of the patients after the end of the study expressed their desire to continue the injection therapy with dulaglutide [3].
What do scientists say about dulaglutide?
The symposium brought together domestic and foreign specialists in the field of diabetology. They shared their observations when using Trulicity.
Shestakova M. V. [4]:
“Dulaglutide in the course of research has shown high hypoglycemic properties, comparatively better than other drugs. It affects the increase in sugar after meals and on an empty stomach, which as a result leads to a decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin. According to this indicator, dulaglutide is superior to liraglutide, because such an effect is possible only with the maximum dosage of the latter.
Dulaglutide is also supported by the fact that it normalizes the patient's body weight by reducing the rate of gastric emptying, increasing satiety and suppressing hunger. The emergence of such a drug will allow doctors and patients to start managing type 2 diabetes.”
And here is what Itamar Rat said [5]:
“Innovative developments in the pharmaceutical industry are very important in the fight against type 2 diabetes. They allow you to control the sugar level, taking into account the characteristics of the patient and the course of the disease in him. This suggests that diabetology is becoming more targeted. This trend should be followed by all of us in the future."
The appearance of Trulicity ™ (dulaglutide) on the Russian market is an important and necessary step of the Lilly corporation aimed at helping patients with type 2 diabetes. The drug has shown itself to be an effective and safe remedy for glucose correction. Now Russian patients will be able to start “smart” diabetes treatment with just one injection per week.
Eli Lilly ("Lilly") has been developing and implementing innovative healthcare solutions for many years, leveraging the results of advances in many disciplines. The company brings to the market effective, innovative drugs that help patients with endocrine, cardiac, oncological, urological and psychiatric diseases improve their quality of life.
The dose of dulaglutide is different for each patient and depends on the level of glycemia, the presence or absence of complications. Consult an endocrinologist for advice, and he will conduct an examination and select an individual treatment regimen.
[1] State register of patients with diabetes mellitus. The statistics on referrals to medical institutions is presented.
[2] Instructions for the use of the drug Trulicity ™.
[3] Matfin G., Van Brunt K., Zimmermann AG, Threlkeld R., Ignaut DA Safe and Effective Use of the Once Weekly Dulaglutide Single-Dose Pen in Injection-Naive Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2015.
[4] Marina Vladimirovna Shestakova - Doctor of Medical Sciences (since 1996), Professor (since 2004), Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (since 2011), Director of the Institute of Diabetes of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Endocrinological Research Center (ESC) of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (since 2007), Head of the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology of the Pediatric Faculty of the First Moscow State Medical University (MGMU) named after I. THEM. Sechenov (since 2004), Honored Scientist (2014).
[5] Itamar Rat is a world-class expert in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus, head of the Israeli National Committee on Diabetes.
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